Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-10-08
For the Spirit of the Age.

For the Spirit OF the Age.
Mr.. EDITOR: You may have not for
gotten that sometime since, I received,
through you, note from one of your fair
correspondents the obieGt of which was
% request ME towrite for sner an essay on
designated theme, promising to recipro-
cate the favor through the columns of the
Age. [, of course, cheerfully complied,
andas she requested an Immediate response,
(stating that she contemplated change of
residence in few days. hastily threw to-
gether the following crude thoughts and
forwarded to her address by return mail
asking at the same time some token of its
reception. AS some time has since elapsed
without receiving this assurance I am ap-
prehensive that the MS may have failed
to reach its destination; and being fearful
that she may have construed my supposed
silence into lack of courtesy or gallan-
try, (for though stricken Invalid | yield
to no one in devotion to my fair friends y
l have concluded to ask an insertion Of the
accompanying transcript in your columns,
hoping by this medium it may find her In
her Cat presently unknown home.
INVALID.
ION Earth there grows no Thornless
--. Rose"
FROM INVALID" TO IDA"
On being requested to write for her an
essay on the above sentiment.
Alas alas and hath Ida" too, nv
gentle though unknown friend, while
plucking flowers from Times fragrant rose
tree wounded her fair fingers with its hid
den thorns, and been forced to murmul
with suffering Invalid" " On earth there
grows no thornless rose" Hath she, too
while quafing the sparkling draught from
the cup of life, been nauseated with the
bitter dregs that lurk beneath the nectared
sweets Hath she, too, felt Disappoint
ment's poisoned pangs gnawing at he
heart strings, and seen the bursting bud O
early promise fau wilte6 by its blightins
frost? Alas alas that youth and beau
ty, strength and vigor, the blooming maid
en- and the bounding youth, should, ere
yet they just commence life's weary pill
grimage, learn this sad and solemn lesson
:" On earth there grows no thornless rose.
A smiling little cherub, pure and spot
less from her Makers hand, goes out il
early dawn to gather flowers yet moist witt
mornings dewy kiss, to dispense thei
grateful fragrance around her mothers dy
ing pillow. Soon she returns, with tn
tear drops trembling in her eyes and hie
ing to her mothers side, in piteous accent
sweetly lisps, " See here, Mamma, no,
the naughty thorns have made my finger
bleed Tell me, Mamma, why the goo
God who made the pretty flowers ha
made the ugly cruel thorn to pierce ou
fingers and make them bleed p Thus
ah I! thus, murmured the stricken mourn
er, at the very close of life and while treml
ling Ger the grave, are we made to repes
what we have SO often uttered, 'On cart
there grows no thornless rose.''
The schoolboy goes bounding on h
way to school. Now he stops to pluck th
smiling flower and anon to mimic the mocl
i birds merry lay. Now he chases the min
bile squirrel to his hiding place, and agai
he pursues the gilded butterfly as it aoa
) by on the vernal gale, with anxious hea
: to win so rich boon. Again and aga
4 does it elude his eager grasp !; and whe
3 at last with reluctant shout, he opes b
D hand and fnds crushed and lifeIess mas
J he cries out in the bitterness of grief. &c
earth there grows no thornless rose"
t The aspiring youth launches his frag
Isl barque upon the turbulent ocean of