Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-06-10
Gbitrtss's qtPartmrnt,
What Can TX do?

There arc few questions occurring more "
frequently t. 'he minds Of youth. or which -
presses itself tbereupon with more deep and "a
thrilling earnestness, than the one we have -
,iocsa nj the head Of these few emarks- h.
n.,rsivs fancy, in her low, soft, silyery tone, tic
Il rerpetually whispering in their ear thaV fac
FIJI 2 were really made up Of the heroic sac
r;6.es md stupeudous achievements Whieh
e,ure IN panoramic succession on the page
or romance, they mightindeed act somewhere
unon It's extensive stage in the character oi
bcroes. But when the ideal becomes reduced
TO the daily routine Of duties or studies when
truly belong to their years and station no
room ia left for the soulsti:ring adventures
which the glowing ardor of Imagination m
sn;res And thus when first realizing IN all
its force the vast chasm separating the real
from the unreal, they feel content to throw
themselves therein, satisfied if they may but
minrle with the oilers who glide in dreamy
abstraction down the current Of timG-
/ have not the talent re2e
lean, q Franklin, or a Newton, argH
TO satisfy the pleadings Of their restless na-
lures . N0GEtlNEb va 4 Nv thNAN SNAA'N
walton never once dreaming at the time,
that other avenues of usefulness equally as
important, il not 50 widely extended, are
stretched out before them other fields OF
usefulness open 10 their vision, into which
they might thrust their sickle and reap an
abundant harvest. Nor does the reflection
always arise in the proper place and endowed
with It's proper influence, that the very ele-
walton these pre-cminent characters they so
much admire have attained, was through the
persevering diligence of long and studious
years that by laborious discipline the mind
became prepared for those grand military
achievements, or sublime moral and philoso-
phic truths, with which they afterwards cleo
trifed the world.
Cases upon record are rare, where obscure
characters have lenpea Mt once to the pinnacle
Of fame. We do not expect depraved ones
% make one single bound to the perfection
of christian attainments. Nay, christianity
itself did not drown the world in the full eff
f~ulgence Of its glorious beams but from
the first promise given, that the seed OF TIT
woman should bruise the serpent's head,
the mind was led on through symbolic OF
ferings and prophesies TO receive and believ
in that L" Lamb Of God" which was to " tax
away the sins ofthc world" Nature in he
every development is progressive; but tn
result il none the less pleasing or glorious
The dew fall and the sunshine work 'togetl
er slowly, silently, almost IN perceptibility
but tho hidden effrrescence they seek doe
germinate its flowers expand, and frui
finally mature. Spring time steps softl
coyly up on winters heels hut through n
bashfuln5ss wins her +qpti th an. I
t,.N tfJt5 gtTFgfc --uu na9n = y,
c,rost Il arrayed IL her verdant garb' an
.uvs vocal with bird and insect melody
,vb;lc clnmbering vines, all richly laden WI
rro,ront flowers. wreathe scathed trunk al
oDar,ed root in one continued gala dress
Lovs,iness. And whilst all nature has .
,rorL % do. shall man alone, the masIer p
Arct;on Of his God, fold his arms In 10
inactive sloth, from an ignoble fear I
P,ms,s loud clarion blast shall meier the
\ tant echoes wake with his great and van
do,5s9 Fame twines no garland Tor
s,,,oard,s brow-weayes no proud WIRE
,rsnngbt about his name. l shall cont
/,bia subiect at another time.