Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-02-04
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LADIES BEREAVEMENT.
For the Spirit of the Age.

For the Spirit Of the Age.
A few short years ago, the beautiful valley
Of the Rio Blaneo and Rio San Marcos were
the ~favorite hunting grounds of the wild In
dams Of the mountains. These valleys then
abounded with b~ufaloc, wild cattle, wild
horses, deer, &c. The face Of the white man
had not yet been seenin this far west: the Pral-
RE had not yet been trodden by the steed OF
the pale face. Tn beautiful Prairies, all
covered with flowers Of the richest hue, and
musouite grass that remained green all win
ter, displayed q beauty not surpassed by any
artificial garden in the world. The red man
In This, the imagined Indian Heaven, after
chasing the Buffalo and other inhabitants Of
the Prairie, through the day, could return to
his Uigwam at night and lay his wearied
body down to rest, without the least fear Of
molestation and his children would play
upon the banks Of the Rio Blanco and entrap
some IF tho lnny tribe from its crystal wa
tsrs, without fear Of the dreadful pale face;
in q word this was indeed q country that ex-
actly filed the description given by the In
dian preachers of the Red mans Heaven.
But things have changed. The wigwams
Of the red brethren arc no lonl er seen on the
banks Of the Rio Blanco his war fire is no
longer kindlod il has long since died out,
and not a vestige is left to point out the place
Of tho war dance, save a few poles (which
may be seen ever and anon along the banks
Of the River which were used i1r the erec-
ton Of tho great tent or arbor under which
Arsrs no more
echo through the forests, in a word the red
man has retreated far beyond the settlements
Of the white man, and never makes us a visit
save now and then on some predatory excur-
sion. In place Of the Indian war song, the
songs Of praise to God ascend from numbers
Of churches, whose stceples point high up
towards Heaven. Instead Of the wigwam
are aecn many beautiful dwellings, whose
inhabitants are engaged in all the pursuits
Of life pertaining to a high state Of ciyiliza-
ton.
Well, dear Circle, come with me to the
fair land Of Western Texas, and | will show
you this beautiful country of which we have
been talking; The PraIries are no longer
left to the voluntary growth Of flowers, but
ure converted into fruitful fields but there
Is enough Of them left for you to see the
beauties of a Prairie home. Come with me
away down on the Rio Blanco, (whito river)
not lar from where it empties Its beautiful
waters into the Rio San Marcos, and | will
show you the home Of " Sallie of Texas"
Then in tho Springtime we will 90 forth up.
on the Prairie and pluck the wild flowers,
and | will form for each Of you a beautiful
boquet, and Of the rarest | will entwine for
each q wreath anc we will all form a rich
boquet and present it to our good {" Spirit"
for all his Kindness to us in taking us into
his beautiful Palace, and providing so many
nice things for our enjoyment.
But in contemplating this pleasant pic
ture must not take up 100 much space in
our corner; but | cannot close this, till l
thank our gifted sitter LoRA, for her eleva-
ted pious Sabbath Musings" and can only
hope (hoUeyer faint it may bo) that | too
may some day be able to write some things
OF a more exalted nature than this poor let
ter. You must pardon me, dear Mollle, for
" sitting quietly down" and not writing Of
tener, but really | was, and am afraid | will
come far short Of our good Spirits" mark
therefore, / preferred to sit quietly and lis,
ton to such Of our Circle as my dear Mollie,
Lora, Minnie, Gertrude Perry, sweet Pau.
line and others. Would that | could see YOU
oil, dear girls, land young gentlemen tool
but am so far away from you all | can
scarcely have that pleasure, but we have a
place where we can meet and hold sweet
communion with each other, 30 one and al
dent iorget 10 write.
SALLIE, OF Texas.
San Marcos, 1856.