Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-25
Written for the Spirit of the Age.

Written for the Spirit of the Age,
The Circle and the Sea- DREAH.
Dreams arc mysterious v~agaries of the
mind, wandering without control over the
realms of fancy, painting every thing in the
brightest hues, stretching forth uncurhed
and unrestrained into the illimitable regions
ofimagination, and clustering toret,eT the
richest gems of thought, the clearest concen-
tlons of the soul, the essence of our immortoI
parts unclogged by the grosser things of
earth. The cares Of life its turmoiIs and its
~strifes, its saddened sense of gloomy realities
are all forgotten-all cast into the bacI
ground to await our awakening. The anoeI
OF slumber lifts us on high, borne inward
in,y the strong wings of fancy, and the eve of
the inner soul, of the spiritual essence Of our
nature is permitted to peer deep into the
realms forbidden to our waking moments
Alas ! that the vivid hues of dreams can
never be expressed! Like strains of music
noatng through the soul is the memory of
their beauties Lut neither pen or pencil can
paint them in their Grigina %coIors. We rise
to the leftiest hd1gs Enquage and catch
a few fair tints, but still above us bends the
lovely arch of sleeps creations, Guiding still
our grasp, too beautiful, too ethereal for
earth.
And dreams too have their horrors-hOr-
rors deep and dark, and hideous to contem-
plate, startling the soul and arousing its every
sense OF terror and alarm, and opening be.
fore it the yawning gulf of despair. On the
black wings of thought the shuddering soul
is borne through scenes that mock descrip-
tion-scenes at which the stoutest heart
would stand aghast and all the sensibilities
recoil.
0 who can fathom the mystery of dreams?
and who can tell how their beauties and their
horrors blend?
sat at my open window and gazed forth
upon the sunset scene. The circling noun
tains rose In the distance, their bases already
wrapped in the shades of night, but their
SUBMITS basking In a halo of light; and /
thought how like the life of the p%enitent
Magdalen- dark and gloomy through most
OF its journey, but crowned with glory re,
splendent as it neared the gates of Heaven.
The mountain breeze came with its refresh
ing breath, tanning my feverish brow and
tossing my hair about in playful dalliance.
And as the dark curtain of night crept slow
~ up the mountain sides, it's heavy folds
strongly contrasting with the rich halo above.
the gentle hand OF slumber sealed nv ewes
and the angel OF dreams took possession of
my soul.
was borne through utter darkness, but
at length faint streaks cf light relieved the
empty void. The light grew stronger and
stronger, and at last / stood in a refulgent
circle, surrounded by a high wall. THE
earth under my feet and all around was car
peted with a rich vesture of green. and full
tollaged trees spread their shades about me.
On my right and on my left were bubbling
fountains OF pure a0oter and little lets cast
up their crystal streams in divers places
The sparkling drops fell in showers, nourish.
ing and invigorating every thing. Many
people, too, were there and all looked well
ana happy. Their steps were firm and
manly, the roses of health were blooming or
their cheeks, and Intelligence beamed from
every eye. A smile was on every lip, anC
each one grasped the othez's proffered han,
and called him Brother" | too was
brother" and heart and hand were open I,
me. All was peace and happiness.
approached the wall, and saw that it wa
built of three different materials. The foun
dation was Love-" then was a LAYER q
Purity" and then it was finished with oFj
deity" A brother approached and thu
addressed me as | stood wondering at tn
things around me:
You are now," said be, 'in the Circl
OF temperance. Around you are the fruits
her natural consequences. This wall !
built to keep out the Sea of Intemperancs
Its foundation is Love, and it cannot be mr.
dermined. Strengthened by Purity an
Fidelity 1T is proof against all the assaults {
the waves without. "Here, here we are safe.
and we feel no fear of the ravages of the d,
stroyer. He can neither undermine our wa
nor m over it, and we know that W
are secure. We call ourselves Sons often
perance, and we are banded together for on
mutual support and preservation, assure
that the eye OF God looks down, we'll pleased
upon US.
"But do not imagine that we are so selfs
as to rest passive, satisfied with our own sec,
rity. No, no; the Sons of Temperance kne
no such creed. We strive for the welfare
others also. Our neighbOrs; our friends an
acquaintance, the whole race of mapkint
are objects of our sympathy, and we stri,
to get them into this, our Magic Circle"
Here the Brother ceased speaking. an
the scene was changed. We were all moul
ted on our triple wall, and | saw, far an
wide, o dark, tumultuons ocean, heaying an
swelling, its pillows dashing wildly again
our wall, but rolling back in broken fra,
ments, roaring with impotent rage. l kne
it was the Sea of Intemperance; and I sa
many vessels, their decks crowded with h,
man beings, tossed on the surging pillows
and as gazed / saw some 90 down, enpu
pied In the stormy tide. In the van ws
: the flag ship, commanded by Prince Alcoh
himself, and manned with moderate drinke
, AL new recruits, taken in charge by Il
Prince himself for speedy instruction. TIL
vessel sailed along not far from us, and v
2 heard the sounds of mirth and gaiety issuir
from 1t. We saw the sweetened wine occ
slonally passing round, and it was touche
] even to beauty's lips. We stretched for
our hands to them, and said Come" III
old Prince looked a shade paler; but h
crew stirred not towards US. "Our ship
salo they is stout and strong we are in 1
danger. See how merrily we glid: look
our flying sails, our beautiful deck, our stror
hull. We need not your assistance. h
there are some vessels behind us that arc n
very strong, their crews are wretcbed helm
help them if you can."
The proud ship sailed on, and as Il racaa,
from us we saw a huge crooked acorm kna,
ing its way through the keel.
The next vessel that approached no h.
her name on her prov in gilded letters.
was Fashionable Saloon.6 Peals oflono
ter were bursting from her crew, and am
the gathering glasses, the music and Il
dancing, and all the sounds of unroa rio,
o mirth, we hailed them and p~roffered ~
hands. Two or three needed our coli .,
we placed them In our magic Circle h
the most of them hooted at us. derided
and told rs we we're not 'resnectablo -
There are some poor vessels behind ms
said they, "that will furnish fitting mater;
for you to work on-you can do them 600,
v but we will have you to know that ,ce 20 !.
d aristocracy, and above all such VULGAR ms
Y tutions as yours"