Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-07-16
Transient Joys.

| saw a bright-eyed, laughing child, reach
upon the tiptoe for a rose that grew upon
tie. topmost branch of a tall bush.
After many an Intellectual struggling, she
It last attained the prize and in an costa
cy, admiringthe soft petal, and enjoying its
sweet perfume, she skipped away to COM
muuieate her pleasure to her companions.
I saw her an hour after, and sorrow now
clouded that once happy countenance the
---s-+-~~@eintnAaaL-staa in her eve 4:
were faded and dropping, its fragrance had
fed away in the air, and its beauty gone
forever!
We stood upon the porch of a friend,
looking out with admiring eyes on natures
lovely velvet, that %overspread the ample
lava, aud suddenly there came bounding
over the fence a fawn whose white spots
st;l fingered on It's yellow coat. We Won
dcrcd how the timid creature dared to ven
turc near the habitation of man, its foe
But in another moment we saw the object
which had lurcd it away from its own in
stiuct; it had gained confidence in the
little girl who stood with gathered leaves
to give the loved one its accustomed sup
per. They gambolled and skipped about
on the grass together, and in the sparkling
eye Of the damsel you could read how deep
~ she loved the petted fawn.
The morning sun rose brightly, and the
balmy air gave spring to every nerve, and
seemed TO say, "be happy" And never
INC cnlid ana ner Iuwn. HupPy IN cucn
other, and as they bounded along together,
the four-footed creature outran its benefac-
trcss, and sought in distant meadows the
first nippings of tender grass. An hour
after this, a deep wall of agony broke on
every ear, and brought each member of the
household to the scene Of grief. The spot
ted fawn, lifeless aud bloody, torn by I'M
plying dogs, was brought to its boating
mistress. Here was sorrow that could not
be assuaged, for her whole heart was bound
up in the fawn, aud no promised Joy could
oblitcrate the remembrance of this she had
lost.
Again | saw an mdulgent father pur-
chase for his boy a horse of passing beauty.
The B~uccphalus of Philips son was not
more gallant in his bearing, and never was
Arabian steed more feet, more docile, and
never one more sagacious. The kind at
tcntions of the youth were not lost upon
the animal iu vain might the hostler ma
nruvre, IN vain the lads pursue no other
hand but has masters could take him in
the field and the boys whistle was al
ways returned by an afFectionate neigh
Proudly and gaily he rode among his COM
peers, and out.stripped them all in the
race. But has joy, too, was destined to be
short-lived.
One bright day, a pet of nature, that in
spircd every living thing with gaiety, the
horses running in playful mood in the
field, the heetest, foremost, fell upon a
sharp stake, which entered his heart. and
left him upon the field, impalod aud dead.
But | looked away from childhood's cid
dy hour, TO man in reasons prime. | saw
the fine estate, the accumulation of half a
century's toll, swept suddenly away by
one ~illjudgcd act, one rash endorsement
who has not seen the man of fortune made
pcnnyless by change Of time
y ship sinks, a bank breaks, and the
broSen-hearted father is plunged in des.
pair. She who once rolled in afHuence.
now begs in penury, while the daughter,
Tea by golden spoon, now stitches by the
midnight lamp to earn her bread.
but yesterday | looked upon a neigh.
boris family, whose cup Of earthly happi
ness seemed filed to OVERLOOKING. Hi.
umplc fortune had reared a splendid man
sion, and furnished it with elegance anC
taste. Every comfort and every luxur,
were at his bidding and to share all thi
was one whoss beauty attracted every ey,