Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-02-25
Written for The Spirit of the Age.
7 FL E E AGILE YED
By MANsE.
CHAPTER 7.

q Tfs# z 49, ~ -
CHAPTER T.
Tennessee is asbeautiful name, and that
State wears it right proudly. It is a land
OF crystal springs gushing out from huge
rocks, greeting the thirsty traveller at eve
ry turn of his road Of majestic rivers,
whose pure waters, clear as a crystal food,
flow on to the mighty ocean, bearing on
their bosom the rich freight of their fer
tile borders of HIGH mountains the hunt
er s paradise of skies hltNg. ess4F q ~
ever smiled on man and Of balmy zephyrs,
such as are no where else enjoyed In all
our wanderings we cannot forget the land
where our young childhood's days were
spent, and often have we sighed for our
native home. Her sons are brave and
generous, as noble as her own mountains
and streams but as fearless as the wild
beasts that used to roam their forests -
lmpulsiVe, brave, they ever stand in the
van OF our armies in war, and nobly do
they sustain the plume dc nome" of their
mother, " the volunteer State" But with
all their bravery, they were (once to a
greater extent than now addicted to vices
In certain sections, whose tendencies were
to ruin them Individually, and lower their
flag and stain their proud escutcheon.
In the section OF which we are to speak,
Alcohol held fearful sway and none cared
to dispute it. The old man leaning on his
staff, went bowed and trembling to the al
tar OF prayer and thence to the rum god.
The young man slipped the poisonous nee
tar from the hands of his love, and none
were free from It's CALLING yoke. Even
the minister looked upon the sparkling
glass, leaping and laughing in its wild de-
lirium, and smiled. He, himself played
with the sernent and placed it in the bos-
ON of his people.
In the spring time of 1850, a fair browed
youth, travelling on foet, called at the min
listers house and asked for refreshment.-
He was welcomed as the true Tennessean
can alone welcome the stranger, and chair
being placed for him he sat down under
the shadow of venerable tree, whose
branches had afforded delightful retreat
from the burning sun to generations be-
fore him. Let us look at that youth a
moment. He talks but little His fair
face indicates gentle age; but there is a
lofty brow covered with waving curls, a
finely chisseled mouth and an eve that
seems dull and languid, as he sits in deep
thought before us. He bears too mark
CT sadness urusral for che OF h.s years
and we conclude when we scrutinize him
closely that he is no common youth The
minister sits in his laboring dress, gazing
intently upon the youth whose abstraction
prevents his noticing the scrutiny of his
host. At length the man of God breaks
the silence and begins in true backwood S
fashion
" Ny young friend may 1 know your
name p
Eldridge Gladsen, sir"
"Well, Eldrige, may l be bold enough
to inquire where you are going ?"
Certainly, sir. lido not know myself.
I want to get school somewhere in this
county if | can. Where that can be had
am going"
60! you are school teacher are Won +!
but you seem quite young for that employ.
ment, [ think
" am very young sir, but I think l
can succeed in teaching. [ have to teach
to live. | have no friends alive sir, all
dead and [ must work or die too" A tear
trembled in his eye as he spake and the
ministers heart was touched. He remained
silent for moment and then brightning
up addressed Gladsen again:
" Eldridge, may be We can get school
here; We want good teacher and [ sup
pose you are an English scholar"
Thank you sir, that is the first cheer
ing word | have had for days. It makes
my heart lighter can teach any of the
English branches and would be but toe
happy to make this the end of my roam
ing"
"Well, you can stay with me and we
will make the trial"
" If we get no school, sir, [ have nc
money to pay my board"
Who mentioned money, sir? Don't
mention it again. viii you agree to my
proposal ?"
a" With pleasure, sir, for I want to g
work"
With brighter face than he had worn
for days, the young man followed his host te
the table. Here he was introduced to the
family First, came the minister's wife, 6
fine looking lady of forty, who greeted hin
cordially, and then his two daug ghters, Grace
and Ellen the former, quiet girl of 1G
summers the latter, shy little creature
who eyed the stranger over hermilch bowl
asif afraid Of him. Eldrige grew lively anc
sociable as the project Of school was dis
cussed, and his new friends felt confident
of his success; and with light heart he
withdrew from the table to arrange his
school matters. The minister mounted bis
horse to see to getting up the school, while
Eldrige remained to rest and enjoy tht
evening with his family. The old lad,
sat down to her wheel under the great
oak, Grace piled her needle by her side
while Eldrige read for them during the
greater part of the evening. How delight
fully did it pass away to the three! Ii,
was an excellent reader, and his voice fel
like music on the ears of his hearers
Time few rapidly, as if the moments wer'
borne away on some mercury's wing-th,
sun went down, the stars came out, ant
still they sat under the shadow of tha
great oak talking of the good and beautiful
in nature, until their hearts went out t
each other, and were Joined in one mysti
bond, the bond of friendship.
| Friendship! mysterious cement of the soul,
| SWestnsr of life, and salder of society"