Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-09-17
LAD ~DSRARTMENr
Written for the Spirit Of the Age.
To the Social Circle.

SABBATH MUSINGS.-N0. /.
Who does not love sometimes to be
alone To have shut out the busy hum
of human notes.-the merry prattle OF IN
nocent childhood-the light laughter, the
gay jest, the bitter complaint, or %unchris-
tian like r%epiuing which constitutes SO ex-
tensivcly the lights aud shadows of social
life Beautiful, indeed, is the proper APP
preeiation and enjoyment of those holy
emotions which should ever cluster around
the domestic hearthstone. Home is a sa-
cred place. There no scowling brow should
dare to check the gushing laughter that
springs 70 ehildhood's rosy lips. No chil=
ling look should crush back the hearts
deeper laRguage-no cold and callous air
TO dry up the cunt of young affection, or
witber the bright hopes with which our
common natures start out upon the pllgrl-
maze of life. Love is lfe's essence-the
atmosphere in which morality and virtue
must lourish-the soil which produces
fruit for eternity.
s s-d aseIfhath amag
ie sound None other can Gallup in the
mind such soul-flling images of earthly
happiness us that brief one-HoME! 1t
associates at once all those around whom
our heart strings cling. The gentle moth
er, who with unwearied eye watched thro'
the long days Of helpless infancy. The
firm kind Father, who steadily guided our
maidenhood up to the hour when his well
fulfilled trust was surrendered to another.
The wild and r%omping brothers-the rosy,
fair haired sisters, who claimed a part of
our childish care-eyen the playmates,
each and all, who gathered with us around
our mimic tea board beneath the shade of
the grand old oak, come back ut memory's
subtil call, fraught with sensations of ever
new yet strong delight. And then as
years in quiet yet successive flow passed
on, there came athwart our path a stron-
ger, deeper love, which drew us away from
the honored protection of parents. Pratt
ling babes sprang up, upon whose opening
minds our own are to leave impressions Of
immortality-cach and every one of them
objects necessarily connected with a vast
idea Of individual responsibility, as well as
heart felt thankfulness, for the happy ar
rangement which pervades all the varied
qualifications of Heavens social gifts.
Aud yet it is sweet at times to turn from
all away-to close the hearts inner por-
tails to their happy infuenees-to recall
the fond thoughts which concentrate upon
them, aud give an undivided hour to the
contemplation of their Author, and the
subdued study Of those glorious links which
He has let down from His throne, to the
grasp Of the feeble soul that would faint
and fall by the wayside without them
And here thought, in its first transit, turns
most naturally to the s%tupendous power Of
God as manifested through all the wondrous
works of his visible creation. Angel pens
might finger trembliugly upon the thresh-
hold of this Incompatible theme. Seraph-
ic harps alone are meet to trill these mex
haustible wonders, with the softer, sweet
ar.lays ssulQve that reverberate amid the
TnfHg, nc IN
ty OF a GodsstafdS forth conspioaously pre-
eminent, challenging the highest emotion
of admiration aud gratitude. Power !
clearly embraced in the harmonious al
rangenent of the natural world. 1t speak
out in the organization of that system c
laws to which the vast mechanism OF tn
universe yields perfect obedience. 1t stand
forth in the iuapproachable intellect whic
conceived, and ability which hnng with
lavish hand, worlds innrmerable into a
infnity of space, and yet taught each
pursue the course allotted it with unyar.
ing certainty. 1t is legible in the magn
tude which subjugatcd the fiery and il
petuous comet, forcing it to pick its dev
Gus pathway peacefully amid the glorio1
creations surrounding it, that would
swept, without such guidance, into chaot
desolation.
Would you FIJI a finite mind to its U
most capability of extension with the id
of God power? Go out into the free a
and gaze upon the starlit sky. Eat
twinkliug spark, whether feeble as Il
glimmering glow-worm's ray, or danciI
and sparkling in the full pride of prima
lustre, equals or surpasses our W gre
globe in size or destiny. Contemplate 1
amomeut their uuutterable number. He
and there dense tiny clusters, which t
eye must dwell upon closely and long &
their modest rays CLEAN out distinctly,
side u constellation beaming dazlingly
minous upon the cntrauced vision. III
the whole vast visible armament glitters
magnifccuce. No regal robe with {
monds sown can compare with 1.-THE I
fected skill of no mortal artist can furu
the WOrlu WITH II SUCCESSFUL copy. DyS|
upon system of worlds unnumbered
blazing suns, ill their allotted spaces
functions without one jarring note of
cord. How lost the feeble mind in
stupcndous conception which it is cap;
of entertaining. How bewildered grows
brain under the magnificent burden
endeayors to support.
And even fancy, though accust
cd to still higher flights, after stri'
to fling from her winglets the earth ch
which fctter them and bracing hersel
a master effort, fits but a brief momen
the outskirts of this gorgeousness,
sinks I" like an adventurous bird that
outAown its strength upon the sea-"
and powerless from the distant glimpse
tanned of such v~astness. Man with al
gigantic powers Of a well developed
in full play, steps back awe-struck
COMPOUNDED by the startling thoughts
which emapate from such a contempla
thoughts which no laws of nretaphysic.
aid him to fathom. And from his
heart bursts up the acknowledgement
$50 -. IA n~l 1901 - i