Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-06-11
The Broken Heart.
BY MOLLIE.

On the first sabbath following my arrival
in my native village, after fifteen years alb
sence, [ took an early walk to the old burial
ground of the parish. 1t was on the brow
of a sloping hill, and from this green sum-
NIT [ looked around with rapture upon the
wild unshorn mountains which completely
e~ncircle the valley Of my nativity, and off
on to the beautiful river, whose murmur
had lulled my spirit to life's purest dreams
then turned with sadness to the silent
city," many of whose mounds covered the
ashes of playmates Of my girlhood. And
there was one neat enclosure, It's turf with
in all covered with blooming flowers, and
under the name of Ann, carved on the
beadstone, ;" Blessed are the dead who die
in the Lord" round which | fingered with
tears.
Ann, from her cradle dreams, was a gen.
tie being. Her confding heart was early
imbued with the beautiful spirit ola mother $
piety and in the sweet retirement of her
cottage home, she grew to ~womanhood, pure
in feeling as the lamb upon the lawn, but
f.o;I IN form "a
heath her easement. Her songs in the sane
tuary and round the family altar were like
f the MARBLE of the sky-lark soaring heaven
ward.
While thus the happy favorite in the cir
Gle OF society of which she was a member,
r William Noble, a young man called hand
some in person, and of winning manners,
j sought and won her love. She gave him
her affection, hallowed by piety, and next to
her Infinite Father, he was the object OF
sweetest drought, whose smiles was bliss
and whose frown was the darkest shadow
of life.
Years melted away, and he left his native
hills to complete his education. But the
gay world and new associations for awhile
seemed to depends attachment, andbright
en- the rainbow hopes of the future. Blu
there came a change-the tone Of his let
tiers was altered, and the being who lovec
him still with a true woman's heart, reac
them with tears. He finally asked to be re
leased from his promise of marriage. Iva
permitted to read a part of their correspon
dence commencing at this period. Their
was no sickly sentimentality in her tende
remonstrance against his cruelty. She re
minded him of the past, and assured hir
her heart had been too long fixed to detac
itself from its idol without a struggle. Ho,
could it be otherwise? She had known hin
from childhood, and suspicion of insincer
ty or unfaithfulness had never flung eve
oh a %momentary gloom upon her joyous spi
it.
on He relented, and renewed his assuranc,
he of affection. The wedding apparel was pr
ely pared, and friends at a distance invited,
ne. ne harmony with his OWL wishes; and Ann W;
,o6 once more happy and blithsome as the SOL
birds of her own blue mountains. But 81
nv was to learn in the bitterness of disappoin
of ment, that oman may smile, and smile
gain, and be a villain? p A letter can
'se, from her absent lover; she broke the SC
me with the ardor of expectant love; but as h
eye ran over the page, the strife of an i
n drn wuru 5uUrI1 guotou Ton o14 ir Uouro, aru cru
its ded with gloom the features of a face il
now bright and peaceful as the sky in spri
e to time.
and 1t was the cold farewell of a faithless o
that met her swimming eye. Thou
~ with Christian resignation she bore t
shock, and made a ~martyr-like effort to
too, cheerful, her nightly pillow, believed W
ers. tears, told the tale Of