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

""'o 50 A0COiy oClempteu 10 QeScrlDe, we take
our leave.
B For the Spiris Of the Age.
Familiar Letters to the Afflicted /.
Ny DEAR FRIENDS: feel that YOU will
readily pardon one, than whom but few,
perhaps, have drank more deeply of the
cha!lce of af1ietion, and to whom the fin
ger OF hope points to no cheerful prospect
OF release in the dim vista ofcoming years
II ne beg leave, in the spirit ofsympathy and
love, to commune with you in the midst of
your sorrows and while envirpne dby fear
ful array of temptations and trials; to COM
municate to you some of those truthful and
important lessons which have been impress
ed upon my mind by that stern teacher, ex-
penence, and to refer you to that never
failing source, that great fountain-head,
from whence | have drawn those inexhaus
uole supplies Of resignation and fortitude.
OF humility and patience which have been
my solace and support when all earthly re-
sources have failed me- Never can forget
how much am indebted to the sweet com
munlon OF kindred >pirits-how much real
comfort and encouragement | have derived
from the instructions and counseIs of those
who having passed through the same fery
ordeal with myself, are we'll prepared to
enter into my feelings, to appreciate and
sympathlze with me in my sufferings and
to lmpart much sage wisdom and instruc-
ton which they have cleaned from their
own bitter experience. And we'll do [ know
how greatly you stand in need of sympathy.
consolation and advice to dispel the dark
shadows OF despair and to point you to a
rock upon which you may safely reclne
while the wild surges of adversity are mad
ly beating against you; and if [ shall be 50
fortunate as to succeed in removing one
lurking thorn from wounded side, in as
suaging one poignant pang in stricken
breast, or IN hushing the murmurs of one
replning heart; | shall feel as if | had not
entirely lived IN vain, and rejoice that
though stretched upon my lonely couch
helpless invalid, | am permitted to add my
ting human woe 4ruyi gsrresl! 1ssasss5ils
boasted philanthropy Of the would
more nearly assimilate to the good Samari-
tan of old; if instead of devoting itself to
visionary schemes and brilliant theories, it
were to direct its energies to the humber,
yet more benignant task of binding up
humanlty's wound and smoothing the rug
ged road which the bowed-down child of
suffering and sorrow is forced to tread.
! Imagine not, my dear friends, that afflc
tlons are confined to you and me, to the
present age or generation. Ever since our
first parents, in Eden's smiling bowers,
yielding to the syrcn Establishments Of the
subtle tempter, plucked the forbidden fruit
from the tree of knowledge and forfeited
their pristine claims to unsullied bliss: sin
and sorrow, like sable sisters from the
Clark region OF despair, have stalked forth
over the earth, bearing upon their shoul-
ders the Pandora box cf human ills. scat
terlng them broadcast wherc'er their foot
steps went, planting here bramble by the
smiling foWret's side, hiding there a thorn
beneath the rose buds blushingS petals. in
tuSlng the sweetest nectar with their bit
ter dregs and throwing the darkest shad-
ows athwart the sunniest hearths. Through
the countless generation Of the buried past
they have never slumbered-never wear
led. Ceaseless and untiring, onward and
still onward, have been their progress not
cline upon which the sun hath shone but
hath borne the vestige of their iron heel
not home or hearthside but hath felt it's
wltheriDg breath. Like the mystic Pro-
teus of mythology story, assuming thou
sand different forms, thousand varied
shapes, at each step they took; they have
strobe forth DER the "wide, wide world -
ravaging the fairest plains and the drearest
wastes, ensarouding the regal palace and
the lowly hut and deluding unsuspecting
victims with their insidious wiles.
Not one of Ewes frail progeny can boast
exemption from the blight of sin /: and
where sin has raised its hideous front, there
afiiction follows close her blood-stained
steps.
Through sin came death and as Adam sin
ned
So we, his sons, must suffer, sin and die"
And from creations earliest morn to
time S remosest eve, these twin daughters
of the gloomy grave shall sit upon the
throne of their joint power and WELD their
duplex sceptre with despotic sway, until
death shall lose its sting and the tomb its
triumph yield. Not one of the countless
hosts which the arch-angers trump shall
arouse in that last dread day, but shall
feel afiictions chastening hand and quaff
the bitter cup of sorrow. IT'S the univer-
sal law-and every child of nature must
yield obedience to the stern decree.
Affection is tie penalty we pay for sin,
and pain is the price which pleasure costs.
The all wise Jehovah in his bene6cent wis
dom hath decreed, that he who giveth un-
bridled license to carnalities, insatiate ap-
petite, and trampleth beneath rebellious feet
the laws that govern nature, must pay the
forfeit which these laws prescribe. That he
who closeth not his ears to temptations
syren song and who bows servile votary
at the shrine of pleasure; laying his souls
noblest affections upon its affairs; must ex-
plate his folly in the prison-house of pain
Thus the bachanalian debauchee, who hath