Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-09-24

under your roof,''
"That cuts rather close" thought Mr..
Manners.
/" Come with us" said Charles. "Then
Leila will not carry divided heart"
Leila echoed these invitations most car
nestIy, and TO his own astonishment, he
found himself in a few minutes seated in
the stage-coach, at his daughters side, a.
bout to make an extemporc visit to his poor
relation.
AS Aunt Phillis is in reality the heroine
of this tale, we feel it a proper tribute Of
respect to follow her course, in preferencel
to the unambitious Leila. 1t is not our
intention to follow the minutie of jour
ney which required many days to accom-
plish, for we are as anxious as she was to
reach the home which had SO long been
looming on the restless sea of her maiden
fancy. The last day, their road lay through
a rough, hilly country, which gave many a
jolt to her weary sides, and aching limbs.
They rode through leahess forests, which
seemed stretching into ga boundless con-
tiguity of space, and through which the
wintry winds whistled, making most mel
ancholy music. Long and anxiously did
the bride real, and the bride apparent,
gaze from the carriage windows, straining
their eyes to catch glimpse of the distant
spires of Banksville, where they were to
enjoy the realization of their golden dreams.
1t was grey, misty, dreary looking day,
and towards evening the mist condensed
into clouds, and the clouds descended in
drizzling rain, which completely obscured
the country, and made the travellers fold
their cloaks more closely round them, and
draw towards each other with more affec-
tonate familiarity.
ooh, l am so tired p exclaimed Aunt
Phillis, leaning her head against Mr.. Banks
ample shoulder; {" shall we never reach
home? You told me three hours ago it
was only ten miles to Banksville."
; "Don't be impatient" replied he, "soon
be there. Charming place; get a fine sup
per 4; rest like princes"
1t was late, dark hour, when the trav-
, ellers reached the termination of their jour-
ney. Aunt Phillis and Elmira had both
fallen back into deep slumber, from which
they were scarcely aroused by the sudden
cessation of the motion Of the carriage, and
the voice of Uncle Banks, bidding them
, wake up, and cheer up, for they had got
home at last. With stiffened limbs and
bewildered capacities, the film Of sleep still
lingering on their eye-lids, they were assis.
ted from the carriage, and led stumbling
I. tSlOng oyes a,rorgh pathway towards a loF
lo1 -, al, II
trees, whose branches made coarse net -worl
: over the roof.
= "Where are we going?" cried Aun
!. Phillis. "What sort of place is this
> Oh, dear Il can scarcely see my hand be
fore me-"
: "Neycr mind said Uncle Banks; use
=, . soon enough. Halo, there giving
= laundering rap at the door" bring ligh
- here. Ho-quick Ia light; the ladies !?
% . A heavy step was heard lingering nea
90 :, the door, which being swung open wild,
u y displayed large clumsy formed girl, dres
~ ed in linsey woolsey garments, with sleeve
~ ~ rolled up to her elbows, holding cand
~ cye in one hand, and shading her eyes with Il
- other.
~ "La, Mr.. Banks, if it isn't you Bic
W W my stars here are ladies, sure enough p
~ ~ "Open the parlour directly. Run ar
;1s make up 'fre-good fre-blazing fire.
H. ~ cried Mr. Banks, taking the candle ar
~ leading the way for his shivering guests.
80 "What are you stopping for, at this u
al : ly old place, when we are so near home
;, asked Aunt Phillis, mechanically followir
a, him, while cold, fearful drops began
,TH gather on her darkening brow.
"Joseph, thought you said we we
= to get home tonight" said Elmira, in
-, IL trembling, reproachful voice, sinking dov
~ ~ into the first chair she saw, half dead wi
No fatigue and indefinite apprehension.
:. Home p repeated Uncle Banks, ru
- -; bing his hands exultingly together, ga
=; = what should this be, but home? N,
~ 'tu place, to be sure-going to be palace b
In IN nd-by-not quite finished yet. Welcol
pei pei to Banksville, my dear-6ne place, Isl
.ay it, hey Z"
'an III Home !" screamed Aunt Phillis, Ii
=; ing up both hands almost as high as
on n ceiliDg-rolling her eyes round the UNI
80 -, pered and unpainted walls, up On the I
L lathed rafters, then into the huge chimn
" where the large girl was piling pine kn
.;.L higher than her head, and whose brC
.i'n WI glare soon illuminated the whole apartm
lIo' ~, =" Home home did you say 2"
'h1s' 6 Yes, home p shouted Uncle Ban
lh 'ne from the very top of his lungs. 81
Mno all at once, hey? Good home as ever v
Swn' plenty of room-plenty of wood-ple
10 of things to eat What more doy wa
as Come, take off your cloak--set down
eccu1 the fre--no ceremony here"
tha Aunt Phillis looked steadily in his f
IN without winkiug-her eyes dilated to Il
utmost dimensions, for more than min
and he looked steadily at her, smiling
ne wiDking all of the time. The girl in
weep chimney stopped blowing the fire, and loc
Poor from one to the other, grinning apd COT
'om' ing, displaying two full-length rows of
broken ivory,
paw "Oh my stars" shrieked Aunt Phi
re- clapping both hands tightly on her b
oucn and throwing herself back in chai
oul . "Oh my head--it will bust--l can't bre
e tne II shall suffocate-I shall die. He
avea wee to the grinning girl, "unloosen my c
W. s.o' unite my bonnet-give me glass OF
.'en ter" The last words were uttered
calmer voice. The idea, that notwithi
a. al ding the awful delusions respecting
Lena splendour of Banksville, under which
lone had been labouring, she could induce
~ to build house to her own taste, o
oie" his bearded treasures, come like goo