Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-04-09
Ynmbsr &c.
LADIES' DEPARTMENT..
Written for the Shirt Of the Acc.

natal day. Eighteen bright summers have
woven their brilliant wreaths around my
head. As the busy day is laying aside her
armor oflight, aud the quiet evening comes
stealing on, binding her raven tresscs upon
the mountain tops and letting her dark
nan,le sweep along the valleys, l think
merrilg but ofteuer sadly, as the past comes
thronging back, bringing from the dim
sepulchres OF the past the buried hopes, the
joys and sorrows long since Departed
But a word often rouses them from their
long repose, and it sometimes floods the
heart with sorrow, and sometimes brightens
check and eye, while the blood courses a.
round the heart.
Another cycle has passed, bearing many
a record of sunny bliss and sable woe
thoughts and deeds garnered up for
eternity. In that time, friends have pass
ed from US into the untraversed land of
mysteries after the brief dream of life,
they sleep. Well disturb not their dream
less repose. With them come thoughts of
sad f~arewells uttered by trembling Iips-of
dewy eyes-of %clpsping hands, and twining
arms. Over theseI would fain pass quick
ly but when | think Of words, looks and
tones Of love /:
LOOKS ana tones that dart
In instant sunshine to the heart"
OF joyous unions where JOY sparkled in
the eyes and fingered in loving smiles up.
on the rosy lips, l would fain linger and
enjoy them one by one over again. But
they Danish quickly. Aud thus it is in
life the bright and joyous scenes pass
rapidly away to give place to those that
sadden tie heart. III 90 back only to the
last spring time, / remember well many
scenes Of happiness that thrilled my young
heart, and there come with these, sorrow
with her sombre garments. The gentle
spring came like u wandering sunbeam,
bringing light, life and beauty to the, earth
made dcselate by cold IMPLYING winter:.2
But though she brought all these to the
earth, there are many human hearts that
tasted not her smile-to whom it seemed
q very mockery.
Then the merry summer, with her robe
embroidered by the b~lushiBg flowers, came
floating along on the silken wings of south
ern zephcrs. and the melody Of the trill-
ing songsters Of tho grove. Alas that
beauty, that music should be lost to so ma
ny hearts y%earning for the beauty of low
ing smiles aud the melody Of kind words
Brilliant Autumn came next, but be-
coming weary she soon wrapped her geor-
geous mantle around her and took her flight.
Although she comes with the changing leaf
and the fading flower, yet many are the
sunny memories that cluster around her.
All! that sue. with her cmblems of de.
cay, would bring more clearly to our minds
the brevity Of life-the fact man is a wind
that passoth away aud comcth OF again
/ have often listened to the melody Of the
Autumn winds and fanciod that in them |
heard notes from angel harpists.
Winter followed quickly in her train,
with It's soft white dress, piercing winds,
and hills that would be bare were it not for
! around to shelter winters hoary
head. / love, as the twilight comes on, to
sit by the window and dreamily look back
to the past, and as / thus sit aud hear the
winds Of winter as they pass hurriedly by,
wailing %sorrowfully among the bare trees,
they sound to me like the &C ho Of past
hopes around the broken heart.
A gear! In that brief space of time,
how many revolutions have passed over
the world! How many crimes have been
committed, from which the heart turns pale
with horror. How many deeds of charity
that command the admiration Of the world
How many hearts have bounded with de.
light, as time has been taking his unmark.
ed flight! how often have the weary PRAYED
Let me sleep while sleep fled from them,
Ali how many hearts have suffered mar.
tyrdom, while the struggle has been un.
marked save by One. But shall they lose
their reward? No! no that One shall a.
ward them the crown, if they continue
faithful.
Some lives have passed with scarce a sigh
to heayo the joyous breast, while others
have been heavy with the weight of woe
Each heart hath its own sorrows.' All
how true? spmedoep hidden sorrow-sone
memory of the past-somc holy thought
sone look, some tone, over which it loves
to brood. How much hypocrisy there is
how often there is the pleasing manner
the friendly smile, the soft loving voice,
the afiectionate caress-while the heart is
burning with feelings of resentment and
jealousy, so that could we see the motive
that prompted them, we would be horri,
ned. Ah could we read the hearts OF
those who protess to be our friends, how
often would We start ack as from the verge
ct q precipice to which We had wandered
in dclirium.
But, thank God, there is another side to
the picturc-'a silver lining to the cloud,
there arc frank, true hearts, which, while
life lasts, are ours though prosecutions,
rcverses aud sorrow crowd around US, are
ever the same How soon the young
heart is severed by contact with the world
its trust in mankind betrayed-its truth.
fulness turned to prevarication and it, con.
hdeneo to suspicion. 1t is sad, AID; but
not less sad than true
! am now entering upon another year,
and | pray that ! may be more useful than
In the Que that is past aud gone that INV
influence may be for good and good only
that may increase human happiness and
not swell the tide of human woe. | tender
my thank TO the Circle for the compIi
mcnts which they have been pleased to be
stow upon me. Praying that Our Faith
or may ogorshadow you ALL with the wing
Of His love, :
| am truly your friend lone.
A Valuable Woman. Miss Peggy Land
n -