Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-10-14


and malice aimed the blow and the warriors
fell but not to yield /; two spirits so linked
could not be severed; and falling together, to-
gether rose to do battle again.
His brow is unclouded, his eye undimmed,
his spirit fire unquenched. She kindles hope
and urges on, he smiles though sadly and
shows how eager he is for battle. And now
they are Drawing misfortune, winning friends
and looking for the glory light that rests upon
the crown Of the conqueror.
The little one by them Is their only child,
the first pledge of love. and who can blame
if they love it too well? Who can blame if
they idolize it? True, it is wrong, but it is
natural, and even they, themselves, tremble
at the ardor of their love, yet love it more
It was n beautiful sabbath evening, hus
band and wife sat together by the open win
dow admiring the beautiful gold and amber
that tinted tho drapery of the west. Maggie
lay sleeping in her cradle. She stirs in her
slumber and the mother rocks her to rest
again.
Maggie must be unwell this evening, she
is so restless and fretful, which she never is
when we'll , said the mother as the babe
again reused from its uneasy slumber.
The father took her in his arms, and a
shadow passed over his brow as he felt the
hot dry skin of the little idol who two hours
before was laughing on his knee. A PRESENT.
ment dark and fearful entered like an arrow
to his heart. The mother saw the change and
her face too wore q shadow, for her heart tel
the chill Of coming sorrow.
Darkness settled down around them, anC
they both knelt by the cradle of their chile
and prayed. How earnestly the parent only
can tell The burden of their prayer was
their loved infant. Night passed away
All through its long hours they had watched
by the babe and morning brought hope tC
their hearts, for the little one slept.
The DIR. came, he was n kind man with q
tender heart and they loved him. The bles
sed truths of Christianity had ennobled hi
nature and he could weep with those wht
wept. He sat down by the babe which wa
fretting in its mothers arms. He felt it
pulse, its head, its feet. How anxiously the,
--- watched his face, and the quick eye of pa
rental fear read the fearful truth. Not wor,
was said but their eyes met, and silently the
allowed tear to steal down their faces. Th
good Physician saw it, and his voice grew
tremulous and his eye moistened with tea
too, as he said The little baby is very bad
fear she cannot get WELL
Through all the long evening they watche
over their idol and bathed it with their tears
and ere the shadows came again. the docto
said she must die She is diving nowl The
laid her in her cradle, she ceased to moa
and her breathing grew faster and harder
They are mourning circle around its dyiu
form. The parents weep till tears can n
longer flow, the doctor too sympathises wit
them and weeps, Aud now Just as the su
sinks behind the hills and the halo of liof
circles the west, ut thi hour, when the anse
come down to guard the pure and the GOO
in their sleeping helplessness, an angel CO,
vuy haStens from the pearl gate of the city
the skies and sweeping their silver pinior
over earth bow too, by the dying child. 81
smiles. She sees them--knows them-smil,
again-gasps and dies 'rs over. Tn,
kiss It's cold cneek and leave il to tha ca
of others, while they pray to be resigned
the will Of Heaven. How blessed now II
consultations Of our holy religion. How brio
the light that shines in darkness The ton
is radiant with glory-light from the Son
God who lay there before US. and the resi-
recton tells Of union hereater-union eter
al. There are now the spirits of the lust ma
perfect in heaven, aud Maggie is there
she was
~ pnre t. rest in sndness here
II sedrr. : Z. 1857.