Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-04-30
ORIGINAL PAPERS,
"Iitten lpf tho oplits VI 'ho NJ
A LIVING PICTU RE.

On a cold December night, near the
solemn hour of midnight, when no silvery
moonbeam cheerily lit up the darkness,
or softened in aspect the rigors Of the sea-
son-we have two pictures for you kind
reader to look upon In the capital of the
"Old Dominion" some distance up -
street, in parlor brilliantly lighted to dis
play its magnificent furniture, in one of
the most imposing mansions, sat a soft
bue-eycd danisel, verglng towards the age
of seventeen, whose soul, shining from her
lustrous eye, tho downcast now in sorrow
and contemplation, bespoke Of purity, dig
nifty, and love. But she had this evening
displeased her father, who now sat by her
side, with a firmness of purpose peering
from his dark eye, overmantled with heavy
brows, that indicated resolution not easi-
ly to be thwarted. 1t was at late hour
OF the night, for Soiree had here been
held, and the guests had but Just gone
each to seek the influence of Somnus, and
court his pleasant dreams-while, alas
there was no sleep this cold night, no bright
dreams in anticipation Of happiness, for the
daughter Of their host-Florence Dean
for one of the guests, Of meagre fortune,
had fingered behind the others in order to
get the last adieu, the last pressure Of the
hand, aud the only token of affection that
was meted to any one of the party.
This was perceived by the father-a
stern, purse proud merchant, and observed
by mother, who was only solcitous to
have her daughter married and well to do
in the world" and in her contracted ideas
Of connubial reciprocity, and this worlds
riches, she knew not that it were ever pos
sible for a married couple to live, and live
happily, without the aid of adventitious
wealth.
Florence" said her father in harsh
tone--too unfeeling for such a young sem
sitiye being, whose love, soul, feelings and
affections were necessarily ardent, deep,
tender and pure-for they were like the
expansion Of April sunbeams upon the
budding and blossoming of the earliest
flowers " Florence, my feelings have
been tortured with modification, if not
boiling in a tumult Of passion, most of this
evening, when l saw you time and again
refuse the profcred arm of the wealthy to
join in promenade, or, cody in different
TO the impassioncd words Of some of the
firms of the best houses in the city. And
wherefore is this ?"
" Father"
Not Il. word, Florence, I'll reply fol
you to my own interrogatory: 1t is from
the cause ofyour blind love, and misguided
preference for that bcggarly medical stu
dent whom | have hitherto suffered tc
visit us, by reason of his kindness towards
and charge, as tutor, over my young sons
a few years since, when at a country board
ing school. And being thus admitted, a
you we'll know, he stealthily endeavored
destroy this, my modern Eden, and rende
dcsolatc my happy fire-side circle, by rob
bing you Of your youthful affections, an
me of your smiles and presence. The frC
zen serpent is personifcd by this ungratc
iul youth"
- My father"
"Hush child l ask you not to reply
for il is of no moment that in extenuatio
Of your conduct, You remind me again an
again of the thousand thanks and oblig'
tions that your little brothers on their +
turn from school said were his due; an
to no purpose is it that you moralize upo
his virtues, or his unblemished charactc
or cxtol his indcfatgablc perseverance,
his success in obtaining an education, lite
airy and medical, unaided by friends or re
atives. For book hao,ciedge will not fu
nish the means of subsistence always, NJ
will the treasures of the mind feed fan
ishing family. Under circumstances sue
as these | have taken the liberty of pc
ming note to him, from you, which on
awaits your signature and I'll despatch
even at this late hour to his boarding-hous
IT'S this -
Sir--A fliol duty that demands of L
not to disobcy their expressed wishes,
turn n deaf ear to the counsels of my |
rents, prompts me to say that, your atte
tions to me, or visits to the family, will
longer be agreeable, and that you W
please henccforward forgive me for I
past marks of preference, and forget
for the future"
This cruel note she was constrained
sign; but of the hardness of the task
must needs leave the reader to Judge; a
should it, perchance, be a female, SHE n
conceive from her peculiar nature the te
that would flow from the fountain of
sorrows, in which she would fain atten
to drown the affections of her heart on 81
an occasion as this, and lapse into obliv
for a time, thro' the medium of the heal
as well as the health's restorer-bal
sleep. But hushed now was the VIII
city-for twas past the hour of midnig
and deep sleep had fallen upon its inhG
tants. But we mistake. There is
dim lamp still fickering in its socket, i
small room of third storied tenement
down - street, by which was sittin
pale-faced student-with book ain
thrust into its dim blaze, that its char
ters might be intelligible to his visi
while his felow-studeuts were individu
enjoying the restorative influence Of slc
which would enable them the better to
dorgo the abors Of the forth coming d;
The reader will probably anticipate
he who sat with book in hand at this
hour, was poor student for It's nal
resources alone, thatafford such stimu
to action, and awaken such spirit O
defatigable perseverance, and ardent {
lation-which arouse all the dormant c
gies of the soul, and lead him, alike,