Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-10-15
For the Spirit Of the Age.
Letters from the Hearthside.
NscRIBED TO THE SOCIAL CIRCLE.
BY aERTRUDE PERRY.

4#
BY GERTRUDE /
All me, Gertrude Perry, don't you !
feel taken down a peg or two, to think
that all these long, bright, sunny days have $
come and gone, until another sweet sum- 8
mer season has passed over your sunny {
head, and not one Of that Social Circle I
have inquired after you? The members
are gliding in to occupy their old seats this
coming winter, and not one isolated indi-
vidual condescends to ask " where is Ger
trude Perry" All, Gertrude, you were
born to be misunderstood and undervalued
by a cold, uuappreciating world; and this
Social Circle, every one of whose precious
gcllen links is a tiny but binding chain
around my heart, is as indifferent, as if /
had never loved them at all.
But | bat my eyes most perseveringly to
keep back the tears, and peep across the
room from the open window where | sit, to
nv little ireside, with its familiar aspect,
and its little fender and bellows, looking
50 good natured and conciliatory, that /
smile %involuntarily, and almost dream | am
back to last winter again, when | used to
sit by my bright fire, watch the shadows on
the wall, aud tie little pittures in the DAFT
cling flames. I will resume my hearthside
musings, when winter comes once more,
and deprives Rose Vale of its present win
ming autumnal loneliness.
Sometimes when | occupy this my lone
ly seat IN my silent little room, a +" still
small voice" within whispers that something
more is required to make me happy, than
my books, writings, music, poetry and
dreams. What can it be? Within my
heart | feel there are lonely chambers, and
[ betieoe that someaVhere on earth wanders
Gertrude Perry's second self, who holds the
golden key which will unlock them ALL
All yes it is a silent, half defined craving
for a congenial spirit-"an eye to watch my
coming, and look brighter when [ come
Let me see this is Leap Year; | have
the privilege Of selecting that twin spirit.
if | please. The memory of a tall, grace.
full form starts up before me like an appa
rition, and I cannot but acknowledge Their,
is a charm in the light, elastic step, tn,
fair white brow, aud winning smile. Ye
from them | turn weary and uninterestec
away; graceful Harry is not ney fate, tia
is certain. Then | think of another, witt
a form Of manly elegance and grace, and
face as handsome as a picture, where tn,
spirit Of beauty seems to have made her IA
) yorite dwelling place; | turn sadly away
; foralas! F." the peerless statue lacks a soul.
= Then the face Of my ~tavorite cousin look
| in upon my heart, and | wonder involun
O tarily if gay, fascinating Johnny could pos
sibly nave the mystic key. Then like
e Pz:l.-. --,. oro0 1,roo -
f heart the voice of one, whose very nam
has something of a spell in it's magic sounC
| turn half sadly away from the sweet br
indifferent glance of his dark eyes, to gaz
upon their scarcely less dangerous picture
d image. Cold caution whispers " 6e1ydre,
Sc and | turn away with a heart sealed to 70
n getfulness, and wonder if he can hold II
a golden key.
Sometimes my thoughts dwell pleaSal
$ ySes- 2 sKqHa4 nast in in t t6ef fPraNee9a
le musical numbers of his " Gem Of q
Ocean," across the heart. We have ne
il err met, and we ueger may but [ som
re times wonder if he holds not the goldt
BIT key. Other faces come up before me, al
I'd among them | sometimes see a dark spar
ling eye, an intellectual brow and gracef
le form that think can belong to nobody b
es A~Ipheus," of the Social Circle AMI
&c am just about to so off in a spiritual cor
Is munion with him, when [ suddenly refe
3 he has "fallen in love- with two fortuna
u feminines, and then | pause and say
ic "take care Girty, forbidden ground "a
n, here my leap year reflections termina
{" with a merry laugh. They brought me
in one definite conclusion, that an envio
We fate has allowed nearly twenty summers
n bloom and blossom without giving me tn
Ill honorable appendage a mas-husbanc
!; that maybe ! am to be like merry MINI
IN of the Circle, "single as a stray glove
Id Well, if SO, | will resign myself GRACEFUL
ii and content myself with turning blue stoc
e. ing, read Miss Leslie, neglect my toll,
to perpetually glory in inky fingers, and wri
an all sorts Of shocking things about that u
he approaching sex who resigned me to a Ii
h. of unmitigated " single wretchedness."
IL Rose Vale, Md.
III