Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-11-26
For the Spirit of the Age.
TO THE SOCIAL CIRCLE.


IT'S Autumn. as4he sturdy yoeman is
enjoying around his quiet Preside the re-
wards of his labor. His barns are well
stored with "provender," and his cribs
groan with their fullncss. Every thing
around him bears upon itself the impress
of contentment plenty smiles upon him,
and ne is happy.
Winter, cold, bleak and cheerless win
ter, is stealing upon us apace. The even
iDgs are growing longer and longer, and
the oblique rays-of Sol fall weaker and
weaker upon the earth's surface. The
frosts have striped the forest of its mantle
of green, and the meadows of their fowery
verdure the arms Of the stately oak and
the hickory, the elm and the beech and
the maple are made bare: the acorn, and
the walnut, and the hazel, and the hickory
nut, lie heaped together in the hollows on
the hillsides while the plains are strewn
with brown and yellow leaves. The tall
pines sway gracefully to and fro as the
winds pass with a gentle whirring noise
thro' their boughs, while with self-com-
placent ease and majestic grandeur, they
nod to each other their evergreen crests.
IT'S night. The old-fashioned clock
above the m~antANpiece, has just struck
nine. | am alon While the stars twinkle
brightly in the css6biue sky, and the harsT
notes Of "the starring owl" float mourn
fully on the breeze, there comes stealing
over me thoughts, gentle thoughts, of tn,
linked spirits Of the Social Circle. J an
again in the mystic band. With feeling
%elate, and a heart buoyant with hope,
resume my pleasant seat beside our charm
ing Minnie and, while | look round upo
her smiling face and gaze into her soul-li
eyes, my heart swells up with emotion
well nigh akin to loUe. Lifting my eye,
| see over the way two new, but ~seemingl
familiar faces" Pauline" and Ella Ma
tin" These, our fair friends, are "thriC
welcome" to a seat in our Circle, and v
anticipate something good during cur Wi
ter cruise from their sprightly pens. Loo
ing around, | see snugly ensconced in h
> f%avoritc corner, my fair friend, Gertru'
Perry, with whose "letters' | have be-
e so well pleased. By-the-bye, may she c
e long succeed in finding that second self
who holds the " golden key" to the "lor
ly chambers" within her generous hea
The fortunate possessor Of the premis
| will doubtless find on entering there, ma
a brilliant gem" of woman's nature.
h Would that I had that golden key!'
d Wonder what has become of Fran
y and Reub, and Hal? Matte May a
K Sallie, l am glad to see, have again tax
their seats in the Circle. | would ten'
20 my thanks to Sallic for her wholesome
10 vice.
m In conclusion, my dear friends, q
ne that | may call you thus,) while It's v
IN ter without-while the northwest W
y whistles around the corners of our 81
:. hall, and the driving sleet plates over v
re a crystal coating the denuded branche
ly the forest trees, and all without is d
DIS and cold, let not our hearts partake of
iciness of the season, but rather let
in draw closer unto each otter, and ende;
to make our Circle a perpetual SUNNI,
ne Let us not frown because Of the warrin
the elements, but pter pour out our S
car in humble aoknow1 IT'S to the G
on Giyer of all good kfS perfect gifts, for
all many blessings which we are permitte
seS enjoy. Altho' we may be poor, or sic
uri in divers ways afflicted, and compt
therefore to deny ourselves many pleas
est We otherwise might enjoy, we SHOULD
rd. member that there are thousands who
ne, in a worse condition than ours-who
neither bread for their children nor a
ter from the storms Of winter, ant
ner thankful. ALPHEU
an, Rocky River Springs, Nov. 9Th.