Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-11-05

light aud giimpses of ecStlcy, for which til
language has no portrayal, and that words III
would but conceal.
1t is assuredly a strange thing, that fl
the aspect Of whatever is most sublime in b
the world around us, should convey to our c,
minds, in its first, involuntary impression, ii
the Thought of our comparative littleness. b
Such views, should undoubtedly produce il
exactly an opposite train of reflection for r
the superior heavenward destiny, the high o
er Immortality promised to the spirit, never n
appears SO precious, SO palpable, as when i
contrasted with the merely u~nprogressive t
permanence of the earth's greatest mar o
yels. 1t is interesting to mark the mystic v
rious connection between human character, a
and the accidental, external circumstance f
OF its position, and to note how peculiarly ]
the moral tone is influenced and prompted a
by outward objects for mental character
isfi"e """craHiauslY assimilate with the
scenes amid winch they have IIveu. THU
love of country is always most passionate
with those whose home is distinguished by
remarkable natural features, and that is
true even with the unimproved and unin
telleetual, who feel, without ph~ilosophizlng.
Many a poor exile, a victim of that heart
breaking maladic du pays, has wept away
his life in vain pinings, to behold once
more his rugged native hills, or to hear
again the familiar dashing of the sea that
laved his early home, and made his child
hoods well remembered music. o.. that
some voice, inspired, could reveal the un-
written poetry, living in the deep silence
Of such natures, and alas dying with
them for full of tender and touching pa
thos would be the history Of souls, that,
IN continued conflict with one wild and re-
~sistless yearning, have wearled out exis-
tence.
Why is it, that the memory appears re-
invigorate1 at this season, and that during
these lovely misty days, old times, long al
most forgotten, return to us with nearly
their original distinctness ? There is an
indescribablc something ,temptingand fresh
ening recollection, in all the episodical Pc
RODS of life we feel its influence in
spring, in twilight, and more than all in
autumn. All well may such reyerres de-
press us, and well may we shrink from re-
membrance, when even the happiest expe'
> rience confesses 50 many tics Embossed, sc
many friendships broken, SO many exquis
! lite illusions lost. 1t is sorrowful, too, al
s we grow. older, to recognize how crroneou
= . our cherished opinions have been to lool
+ back Oh the wrecks of our ~fayorite theories
and to feel, that, with all their vanity am
+ deception, they were to US what nothin:
else can be, and to realize that we can nev
err hereafter give to anything but lnspira
tioD, the ~fervent, unhesitating faith W
K wasted on their falsehood. But alter q
sc We may, always with its old beauty, its fal
H. familiar s~oftness, autumn glides to on
70 -presence; and though with its cofping til
to year after year, they appeal to US Strong
n and successfully still. We cannot gro
weary Of SO much loveliness, and it seen
n but the dearer from it's continued returning
or "Always wonderful to me-" said Schille
i'll els the sublime simplicity, and then aga
the rich protusion of Nature. When v
A. have long been tossed here and there wi
nj passion, with outward and inward confic
I'D when we have parted with ourselves, st
Use we find the same nature and ourselves
her. How sad were our lot, could we n
bring our vanishing possessions, and e
trust them to this faithful friend we W
have such need savingly to turn even t
pleasures Of the past into property" A
no us month after month adds its unfadi
at records to the accumulated hoard of our
sociations /; as we feel by the paling
earthly expectation, and the constant brig
ening of memory, by the darkening of
heart and the doubting of the intelle
that Life with its aims and responsibility
is a more solemn and earnest gift, than
our reckless joyfulness we once believed
!; then come over US with unspeakable c.
re- ISOLATION the knowledge, that the mono
pot tary present and the mournful past are
ing all, and the precious assurance, that
un- future, for faith, is boundless. Our o
uds spirits echo and confirm the truth Of
convection, and unfolding ourselves in
De- glorious consciousness of Immortality,
VS. learn to be grateful even for griets, ii Il
nS- have induced US to look within, to
lid depths of our own being, and trace th
ing the heavenwarG mystery of existence.
ong Thought! thou, the holy, the eternal
our the beautiful, we have indeed much n
far to be thankful that thy range is limitl
s to thy flight unceasing! From the cares
and conflicts, the pains and penalties, the tel
ush- ~tations and resistances of our conn
ich, working day world,'' we can turn
lght needed and unprotaned. Daily experie
at is would be too great a WEAKNESS, had ref
$50 k .ooPaVO, aId were vhe mind
my prived of its priceless power to soar ali
'alis, mortal evils aud free itself from the sh,
sun les of materialism. Duly from sorrow
ance cannot fee, for that is full of divine rec
y In pense, and opens wide the golden gate
heaven, sanctifying humanity until
y to almost angelic. Give all reverence
with those who patiently and TRANQUILITY |
aJes- suffered, for a spirit, not of the eartl
hing with them, and the dark page they
way. t~earfully unfolded, is a leaf from the /
ystic of life.
the ViVidly, as | write, throng to my ne
has ry some Of those / have known, puri
lpon aud exalted by the ordeal of afaiction.
AnC one especially, who in the bright Aus
the ~girlhood, became in a single year a
De to and a widow, a mother and childles
nifty, Never can | forget the indescribably to
IAN ing expression Of agony, subdued int
hing signation, that rested on her youthful
IS to lures, and often since, through the
kind clouds Of my own sorrows, that fair,
in a face, IN its serene and appealing loyelil
sr, it seems to shine upon me, like the hallo'
| be- light Of stars. She has had her rewar,
~ IL Il wbo await the end In trust anC