Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-01-21
LADIES' DEPARTMENT..
Wilton for tho Split Of tho Age.
SABBATH MUsINGs-NO. 10.

y Is invested to those who never souobt
or lett her power, can be advanced as no
argument whatever against her trutb
Even Gods visible creation tecms With
mystery. We lay the scarcely pcrceptible
SEED IN the moist earth, but can we tell
ne" 1t acquires strength to struggle thro'
the covering VIC placed upon il? Why it
should strengthen and expand, by drink.
ing in the dewfall and the sunshine p
Whence comes the dainty hue tintinc the
uny bud, ~ II ventures to peer through
the protecting folds Of its green cover p?
And why should it then, as If satisfied with
ITS brief survey, open out its gorgeous halls
Tor the reytl OF the bee and butterfly. each
petal glowing in a rich and rare ~tracery
which puts to blush all human pencils ey-
cry flower sending forth that influence in
the FORM Of delicious fragrance, which was
dropped into its heart by the same unerripo
spirit thai breaihed the breath Of life into
the incarnate statue He had made?
Chemistry may a%nalize the soil from
which u grew present luminous disserta-
tioDs upon The elements which combined
TO produce tie frail but beautiful thiDg;-
Botany may classify and arrange its family
rciatirn9,-sud medical science appropriate
us uses, still we hold the fading, sweet
breath'd tremhler in our grasp and look
crtranccd upon its pcrfcctness Of finish,
until the SOULS woudrous contemplation
ouistrips them all, and can but lisp in very
Ignorance It's birth, its origin, its sweet
ness, It's blush-Is Con- The unerrinR
instinct Of the irrational world, though so
pcrpetua1y recurring, is ever fraught with
deep but silent wonder. The carbon.
sPurncd by the PEASANTS foot in his daily
walk, chrystaiized and purified, CLEANS in
It's starry ~spleudor amid the ietty curls of
woman, or lashcs in proud defiance from
the gIittcriug bautle resting on the mon
arch's brow.
And who understands the beautiful but
strange adaptation Of the 8 nscs, as %recipi-
cnt5 OF every imaginable pleasure :? Tie
vast mystery Of the souls connection with
the frame which is loatbsome ~rottenness
w.thoGt it? No rational person. enioying
tho blessing Of sight, can think for a mo.
ment Of an impenotrablo veil Of darkness
being drawn over it, without an inyolunta-
ry shudter. In an instant start up a whole
constellation of loved faces: Rosy babes.
growing and dancing in the exuberance of
i%nfantiie joy blushing maidens, treadiDg
the blossom-wreathed path of earthly love !:
stately youths, with finn intent and blazing
eye fixed upon the chaplet of fame me
rldian manhood, in the quiet discharge of
social and moral virtue; hoary age, with
the curtain OF a long and useful life gath
erlng III richer folds about its close and
though q daily, nay, an hourly feast, we
hesitate Lot TO acknowledge the thrilling
pleasure G draw from their repeated in
tlucnccs.
Then tho bright blue SKY b.nds above
with ia 400, .aani-
ltS glowing bushes, melIowcd s0briety and
stormy b'ackness. The emerald carpeted
earth, bcspaugled with daisies and adorned
with V%lolets, where the vines trail and the
clover blossoms sweotcnj the quiet waters,
sleeping in the moonlirht--nlayinc Their
soft tune as they fash back the dazzling
sunshine, or surging the oceans deep toned
bass IN natures choicest anthem the
n%oiseless tread Of twilight the starry
g~lorlousaess Of night, and ten thousand
other beautiful things which send emotions
OF intense delight, thrilling like swee,
sounds through the system. We inhaIe
the porfumcd breath Of flowers, and dearly
love the aroma which they commission the
dew laden wings of the morning to bear
aloIt as their matin song Of praise. We
md luscious fruits, delicious to the palate
and nutritious food, iuyieorating to the
system, The clasp Of sympathetic hands
the creation Of rare music by skillful fin.
gers; the ministration to loved ones, arc
"cts oil deeply ploasurc-frouoht And oh
to dunk Ia the melody Of sweet sounds
the ringing laugh Of childhood, the warb,
Iiuss OF natures glad hearted miustrelsy
The gurs!e Of bright waters, the triumphant
Hallelughs OF the rcdeemed-Father in
Heaven teach us for these glorious gifts
how to render fitting thanks 60 Thee. We
have enjoyed them through all time, there.
fore arc they undervalued by our migrate.
tui hearts yet can We spare one? Can
We view any one of them impaired without
pangI No, an no! Help US, then, to
praise Iaea gratefully aud Alright.
And Jet viewed separately or collec
lively, they are laden with a subtil myste.
ry we eanno penetrate. Mystery brood
eth every whore. Ii hutters u the zephyr',
wing, and floats in the storm clouds fury
1t IS p%enciled in each quiycriug leaf which
makes the forest, and CLEANS ia each gilt
tering drop that forms the ocean. 1t Turks
IN The new boru's sleeping smile, aud light:
up the eye of tho dying sprc. In ali the
ramihcaGions Of the natural world. il claim.
ctha hone. In rosy Tipped shell aud crag.
gy rock in the finest down on the hum.
ming birds wingand each fcathered braneL
OF tue towering pine in mineral aud gem
IN flower and volcano in bird and beast
IN life aud death; in flesh aud grass. i
'liveth as surely. Earth, and sea, and Sky
are its distinctive chambers. Science in,
deed has strobe grandly among the stars
dived INTO the earth, dipped into the sea
and roved through the forest. She has
classified passions and mastered physiea
diseases, bat wherever she has gone. tho
her key be brass and her torch almost d.
vine, she has found doors her subtil finger,
may not unlock, and darkeucl crypts he,
light can not explore. And after her lof
test flights, she is forced to stop aghast
that she has but SKINNED the surface
without a glance beneath the inner We;
she had been endeayOriug to penetrate.-
The boasted genius Of man fails here. anc
the proudts st soarings Of fancy are STAYED
by lnscrutable darkness. God has marked
the invisible boundary with Ills own hand