Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-01-07
LAnIES' DEPARTMENT..

For the Spirit Of the Age.
20 ~ sOCIAL CIRCLE.

ever busy fingers, had selected yet another :
victim from among those whom | know and /
love. IL has taken me all aback. Ii has :
unstrung my nerves for the cool, calm re- !
Elections which my wontcd theme demands. !
II has revived some rich and rare blossoms (.
which had lately been gathering for mem
ory'a choicest herbariUm. Three such
Jewels az have been removed to the skies
from our community within a few short
weeks, deserves more, far more than the
feeble tribute Of this sad and silent hour.
In my essay preceding the last, | urged
the certainty ofdeath. Oh how striking
w.. in tho narrow circle Of acquaintance
which | can call py own, has it been Tcri-
fed.
Last week my theme was the power Of
christianity 10 dispel its gloom, and this
theory has also been gloriously proven.
Dear good precious AUNT MARTHA,
ripe in years and ripe in the development
Of practical christianity, went home first
il is meet | should so recall her here. To
the world the announcement was made that
Mrs. Martha Williams was dead. But she
was moro than that to to many
LOVING friends-aud infinitely moro to the
GiNlEh NhiGtt 6tiG lONGu dhh duOl Wy q
long aud u~cfullife. With my childhood's
earliest rccoilections her kindly beaming
face is blculcd-with the first tones about
my young life hers commingle. 1t "ss
Aunt Martha, dear sainted Aunt Martha,
who shielded me from many a harah repri-
mand in my ~infantile schooldays, by sew
ing up torn dresses, smoothing out tangled
locks, and washing muddied pinafores ere
tic noontinc play hours had passed. 1t
was Aunt Martha to whom in sickness |
daily took the little basket, put up by a
mothers careful hand, and upon whose
weakened Gppctite | pressed the poor offer
ing of biscuit from my own store, if a
duiuticr morscl failed to be prepared for
me. Long years we had been separated,
save at rare intervals, until shortly before
her death. She attended a meeting which
resulted in a great and glorious revival in
the Baptist church, near my home, and
upon that occasion made her first visit to
me. Can | ever forget it? Never, oh,
never She was full of love and overflow
iug with Joy. Even in social conversation
she would break io..h-"bless the Lord.
Oh, praise ny God for MS many services
to ne. Bless him for bealth-for this sweet
pure air we brcathe-for kind friends-fol
comforta-for Iuxuries-for blessings in
Vulnerable. Bless him, my dear child-my
darling L., chat | am once permitted to b.
undtr your roof-attended by your hus
bsui-aud surrounded by your children
1t is the first, it may be the last time still
Ills Ways will be right His visitations al
good" So save her aged limbs the wear
ncss Of fight of stairs. She spent the nigh
-
by, yet sicep came not to her eycIids.-
McmorJ's rich bandeau was clipped and i
Tearls flashed and glittercd all around he
She fingered lovingly about the past
dwelt f9ndly upon the friends who ha
passed away-thcir spiritual hopes-the
deeds Of love then the present it's o
jccts its prospects tho future with
BRIGHT anticipations, its hidden realities
But still! the burden other song was prai'
4 few nights after, upon the close Of t
services already referred to, her visit "
repeated. That night too claims its UNI
ding record on every heart which be
around Der. The morrow was to witn'
the Baptism of over a hundred and Fl
into her earthly church but alas me
found her in usual health until the with
lGH manu- Oh ulstdao SuuuGulJ iCll' w
may appoint, God disappoints; still, bl
his holy name, was the new song of ia
and resignation that broke from her CT
~yulsiye lips. Such it continued until
determined on her departure to a dist
earthly homo and such doubt not it C
tinued during the two weeks that interv
cd ere she vent to her Heavenly abode
Dear, dear, Aunt Nlartha-her face,
words, her deeds, her christian zeal lies
II wreath Of gems and flowers upon the
tar of many 4 loving heart, and will
neither brightness or perfume until tt
hearts shall thrill no more.
MARY g. BRIL- Had there been 2
or to influence the grim archer death
the long tried affection of parents-the
tense anxiety of brothers and sisters
devotion ofhusband and friends-the n
We have just written would never have
enrolled among his trophies. But
strobe Femorselessly over the threshold
happy home, caught a rosy, laughing
in his heshless arms, aud ere he bore
away paused to sign the warrant of
mothers doom. There was everyt
collected about her s%oiourn here to re
life desirable to her happy and conte
nature. a new ana comfortable II
with oil the pertainments requisite fo
%joymcnt, near by to the homestead W
held Father, Mother and the little one
loved. Brother and sister gathered
around their respective fresides in he
mediate neightorhood. Friends 81
upon her lovingly and gladdened her
way everywhere. Times footsteps
only left the impress of a matured
youthful womanhood upon her heart
brow. Nagaries had become realities
lish drcamings were merged into actu;
joyment, and life, which like a hOwe
been slowly enclosing, was giving OF
full perfeetncss ofblush aud perfume
developed p9wero Of appreciation and
ment. But ,he Grst born is removed
freside has its vacated chair-heart
made desolate-and a fresh mound j
lonely graveyard holds her mortal f
is that all! No thank Heaven, L
Her assurance of a blissful immortalit
clear. She grieved that her Parents
notresigu hercheerfully-tha her hU
would not give her up-for the frail
of her loye-for kindred and friends
there was noEe for herself. A b;
hn,ne RADIANT associates. a Sayiour's