Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-08-26
yaAhs aspp4n:rt.
Written for the sirit of the'As''
\ToO LICE;
OR TIA NFLUEEE OF WEALTH

"A fevS sys ago, as l was passing through
Sshesg of w took it into my
MAD isit the Lunatic Asylum, when - =.
Ihere; a very comfortable ana u,
P'eas9 arranged building, situated IN =;
one o most pleasant and beautiful parts =.
o. thd avn' As l was passing through ee
the bu z / stopped several times to us - -
Ten to Fild cries that often broke forth Il
fromA " occupied by female, the door or
OF yhic Fas standing a little ajar. re- re
qpfsted 1.-The Physician who was actingas 10
my eseort hat we should enter the room +
we egtereAand Oh! horror what a sight s.
dldI then ehold! could not believe
thf did Aally see before me, confined a
tkere, the BEAUTIFUL and once happy lass, 9
haulda Barro, whom but a few months
previous ! had Known as the amiable, intel
ligent and | thought happiest maiden l had
ever known.
eneBofd that she vas seldom rational
that she was generally a wild raviDg maniac,
so much SO, that it was necessary to keep her
confined continually. Iasked Of the Ply
stefan if We could be left alone a few mo-
ments. After cautioning me pretty well,
he consented and made his exit. As soon
as we we're alone, I commenced asking her
several question, hoping that | might for a
few minutes bring her to her right state Of
mind. At FIRST she answered me in a wild,
careless styl lie butsoon she became more Sc
rious, and in u short time the veil seemed
to have been lifted from her eyes; reason
appeared again to have resumed its proper
place, and oh what a thrill Of Joy passed
through my breast, as she recognized me,
called me by name, and reached forth that
tiny white hand, laden with chains-to
meet the grasp Of mine.
She was now, apparently, perfectly con-
scious Of her condition. Without any So
licitation whatever upon my part, she pro-
eeedcd 10 relate the following statement of
the cause Of her being in her present sad
condition. AT any rate,' said she, { this
is all that / recollect.' She commenced
thus:
Billie Gas she Familiarity called me-
cts useless for me to tell you of my at
taebment to Henry Baldwin. You know
how strongly, how truly he loved me, and
how fully his love was reciprocated. His
Fathers business became such, that it re.
puired Henry's presence away in England
two years. l was forced to part with
49, but we parted with this promise
IL The expiration Of those two years
80 was to return to me, and we wer'
Joo tied as man and wife. Time pass
~ VI, Y how slowly did the wheels o
"ppe, to move. At last the vol oDi
70 ~nao9early worn by, and the tim
TT. Lsy s.oeturn was near approaching
. "rittN to me often during his at
faitSfaf fS S 6i Sssseins ss that he would b
not believe that he would ever becom
faithless to his VOWS. But alas who, wi
can read the human heart
AS she uttered the last sentence q TT
mor/saized her frame, and her dark al
once beautiful eyes sunk back, death-lik
in her head, and with a groan of unutter
bic anguish she fell in her seat but
most Immediately she sprang iorwar
breathing defiance aud threatening We
geance ;-crying Il know my Henry is n
false. / know he will come. Henri
Henry, my dearest Henry. There !
comes. Take away that man, that dov
He is bearing my darling from me. Oh
see his ugly horns, they are piercil
through my heart. His oyes-Oh! pr
turn them from me, they are consumil
me, they are burning me up She shral
back in her chair, trembling, even un
the chains that bound her jingled.
Oh! thou rich, proud, %scoruful NJ
chant, such is the punishment, the wron
ful punishment thou hast heaped upon tt
innocent girl. If she or her parents b
been blessed with a large portion of Il
worlds goods, or enough to have equal
thy wealth how different would have be
the scene.
Reader, this rich Merchant is Mr.. Ba
win Of whom we have spoken before,
was a very wealthy Importer and wholes
dealer in dry goods, &C., and at the ii
our story opens, was carrying on busin
on C-Streot in the city of B.
was the Father Of Henry Baldwin, q yor
man possessing a good true and noble he
aud mind. de was one rarely to
found with an honest, persevering,
ergetic and upright character, differ
widely, In many respects, from his sci
Father.
When Henry departed for England
was betrothed to Matilda Barron aye /
were married by all that truly binds
and wife together; they were married
heaven, if not on earth.
When Henry's Father heard of /
engagement, he was greatly enrage
'What ] said he, my son going to m
the daughter Of an humble Mechani
Must | receive that girl 10 my house
acknowledge her as my child? no, n
shall never be; my family shall neve
thus disgraced. She shall never liv
her idleness and feast upon my wealt
What I possess shall make some one b
more deserving than Matilda Barron
Matilda was the daughter of HI,
Barron, an industrious, honest and .
vering Mechanic. True, his treasul
earth had grown TO a considerable size
had around him, and at his bidding
that men ought to wish for; but J
was by no means to be compared wit
wealth Of Mr.. Baldwin. Therefore j
that he could not think of putting hi
and family upon a level with that Of
Barron.
The necessity of Henry Baldwin's
to England was q mere plot, scheme
his selfish Father, for the purpose of
ing Henry from Matilda; hoping
by his stay his affection for Matilda
he ohliterotad Such is not true love