Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-08-20
0nlalNAL pApgRS.
Written for the Spirit os the Age.

H-0-r~r-~-c~0-~r-c@~
Written for the Spirit Of the Age.
FHope springs eternal in the human breast"
Man mover is but always to Je blest"
10 every department Of nature ihe atten-
tive observer finds objects and scenes worthy
of attention. Every bird that carols its rnei-
low notes; every leaf that quiyers in the
breeze, aud every flower that EXPANDS It's
daw-geminod petals TO the morning Sun, tends
to excite emotions Of beauty. five mike
excursions IN thep philosophical, chemical and /
mineral world, at every step we are present
ed with phenomena which excite wonder and |
admiration. Whether we behold the l3fkrL
monntai talxcriaq IS pfsaa Iaslf < ~
-isttlacc Ossthe t1a4e SKY old Ocean, dash |
ing It's angry billOws against the precipitous |
rocks, or the "Garden of Deity blossomed
with stars" we are alike struck with the
grandeur and sublimity Of the scene.
Yet ye find within ourselves a subject sui.
ted to inspire emotions Of still more enno-
bling character q mechanism which here
will continue in the most vigorous operation
for years, and the principle Of which will last
throughout all eternity divine principle
which by the consummate power, wisdom
and beneyoence of the Deity is so formed
that nourished by tho refreshing dews of
free grace, it can flourish even in the most
barren soil and cause the soul to ascend on
the pnions Of faith and hope to the highest
seat Of spiritual intelligences. The mind is
endowed with various faculties, each of
which bears an intimate relation to all the
others and exerts n salutary influence over
them. While by the aid of the Imagination
we separate compounds into their simple ell
cments; again combine these and place be-
fore the minds eye new and enchanting
,,nt ,yb Il
the delightful garden of fancy, were she sub
ject to no higher power, she would Gull flower
after flower and ascend from one airy castle
to another until it would be difficult for her
to retrace her steps to the world of fact
judgment may sit arbitress over all the past
scenes that memory can place before her
and luxuriate in all the fair prospects that
anticipation can depict, yet in all her decis
ions hope must guide the helm, or she will
drift on the quicksand of despair.
We find in every department of life tha
hopeful, energetic spirit is necessary fo
the accomplishment of noble deeds. Wha
has the lethargic, Responding individual eve
done in the physical world? lie may il
the sunshine of prosperity, WELD his weapon
but when the clouds of adversity cast thei
shadows over his pathway he abandons hi
enterprise and gives himself up prey t.
melancholy. While the energetic characte
presses on, bending all circumstances to hi
will, and surmounts every obstacle
If we view the human race in its individu
al capacity, we shall find that he who accom-
plishes tho most praiseworthy deeds is tn
one in whose breast the star of hope shed
the most refulgent beams. Do you want evi
dence of tho truthfulness of this assertion ?
Then look through the misty veil that thre
swift centuries have spread over the past
See Columbus surmounts, apparently, In
passable barriers, obtains frail bark; laur
ches it on an unknown sea- and at last di,
covers the land which is now the brigl
COASTS of scientific light and Bible truthN-
Washington, with small army gains gl
rious victory over an apparently invincib
foe and unfurls the star-spangled banner vi
der whose halcyon folds the most favored n
ton Of the earth now reposes. Let enere
nerve the arm, and hope direct the NOV
ments and nothing will be too difficult to
accomplished. This land which, a few yea
since, was a dense wilderness, is now co
verted into fruitful fields, rich pastures, al
hourshing gardens. On the ruins of Il
wigwam is erected the stately edifce. T.
haunts that then resounded with the hideo
cries Of the wild beast are now covered wi
towns, cities and colleges. We no long
behold the red man padding his canoe doJ
the tributary stream but the great ir
horse froighted with the rich produce of 0
land, ploughs the briny deep and visits I
most distant countries. Where is the natl
that can boast navy superior to our ov
or where is the foe that would dare raise
hostile head above our bulwarks ? He
guides the helm while the individual descer
and gathers up the rich gems that lie dc
beneath the watery abyss. Steered by
same compass the energetic hand has PEE
trated the thick strata, lain open the ri
mines, and extracted the phosphorescent
mond from the comminuted drift. W.
would man be without hope? A mere b
bic tossed to and fro by the merciless wa
of care and sorrow. An olefant ras Ii
that is extinguished by the first gush of W
that passes over it. Briskly the thirsty c
alcade pursue their way across the Dire
desert. But when they reach the desi
spring, and find no water, hope is extingu
cd and they fall lifeless mass on the br
ing plain. What but the hope of obtain
scanty remuneration induces the poor
borer to continue for each successive day
arduous toll? Would the artesian borer
CIR penetrate the thick calcarous rock die
not think that the crystal fountain VIC
send forth its limpid waters through the
cavated path? With the anchor, hope
tened in the firm rock perseverance, we 4
not l6af 10 luuncn upon tne most lmperVl
seas that surround the intellectual worlt
Hope is alike the torch light of the i
child that makes its first advances in
mere rudimentS of education, and Of the !
osopher who winds his way through the Il
intricate maZes of the scientific wurl,
Would we ever sit poring for weeks, mon
and even years, over the abstruse princi
OF foreign language, did we not hope
we would mt last become master oft? "
since mathematical Scierce is not suite
interest every mind is the extensive pao
history repete with the names of those
have devoted their attention almost ey
sively to it.? They saw through the N
veil Of the future, the high niche in the
-sple Of fame on which their attainmen
these sciences would cause their nam
be inscribed in indelible characters. ID,
less tho illustrious Newton while inves
ting the important principles by whcl
numerous worlds revolving in unlir
space are regulated, anticipated the fact
the wiscst philosopher that would SUI
him would not spurn to pluck flower
the fragrant intellectual garland with
he was then encircling his name. Dou
Watts saw in expectancy, Though i
be dimly) the great iron horse that wol
constructed on the principle he disco
while watching his mothers tea kettl
foresaw that the link thus formed be
remote nations would gather never
laurels around his name through time
mortal, Hope is alike the polar star