Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-01-21
ORIGINAL PAPERS.
For the Spirit Of the Age.
Z N A G LIZ I @ R D.
BY LIMA LEE.

BY LIMA LEE.
The melancholy days of Autumn have
come, impressing on the mind the sad
thought that all things fair and lovely pass
away. Far away into the dim and spectre
like past my memory wanders, to other
years, fraught with scenes of JOY, but past
never to return. And then the heart sad
deus, with fond recollections of the dear
old friends, who shared our every Joy and
soothcd our weary sorrows. We ask,
where are they? and echo replies in mourn
ful tones, o where. Some have wander.
ed far from the scenes Of their childish
joys, aud bless with their cheering words
the hearts Of strangers. Some still lift up
their sweet voices blessing the hearts of
their parents, 10 the beautiful homes of
their early years. Some have made their
lowly resting place with the fair young
flowers, fit emblem of their own brief lives
o they are scattered far and wide
"Somc at the bridal
Some at the tomb !"
but they are not forgotten. And as some
old long. g.forgotten strain falls in sadness
on our ear, il awakens fond recollections of
the loved and lost" Never shall |
forget .hc day when the monotony of the
BelleVille Seminary was interrupted by the
announcement that the new music teacher
had arrived. How anxious we all were to
see her. She soon entered the school-room
with Miss Palmer, the Principal, who with
her wonted dignity introduced her as Miss
Clifford. She bowed and smiled. | look
cd on her pale face--the smile was not the
gladstone smile Of pleasure votaries, but
calm and pleasant Que which rendered her
still more lovely. l connot describe her to
you, as she appeared on that morning in
her simple morning dress. Her form was
sylph-like and she possessed quiet ease
and natural dignisy which no one could fail
to admire. Tue world would not have
pronounced her beautiful, but to me there
seemed to shine from her melting eyes of
"suuny blue" IN intellectual beauty which
few possess, in spite of face pale as the
Pariau stone. Her golden curs, which
hung in profusion around her face, gave her
child.hke look which endeared her to
every heart My FIRST thought, as | gazed
on her pensive face was, she has suffered
will cheer her heart.
OF course the new music teach er was the
subject of conversation when the merry
bell announced our study hours over for the
day. 80, is she net beautiful ?'-ex-
claimed merry black-eyed girl, with all
the enthusiasm Of her nature, for she had
her home in the sunny south, and possess
ed all the ardent feelings peculiar to that
beautiful region-"beautifu beautiful. -
e." Not beautiful" says another, but very
interesting" Well, think, if an angel
ever wandered out from Paradise, Miss
Clifford must have been that angel What
sweet romantic name," repeated another
40, girls, let's practice our lessons we'll so
VIC will not grieye our angel-hearted teach
or" And We did love her. True, Miss
Palmer was good and lovely, but as she
moved around the room, with all her queen
ly dignity, we felt as if we could only adore
her at distance. We could approach
with ease and ask her to explain difficult
lesson, and when she had kindly done this,
we would retire from her presence wonder
ing if there had ever been any one wiser
than our talented kacncr.
But to Miss Ena we would come with
all our perplexities aud school girl trials.
If sorrow oppressed our hearts aud bowed
our spirits, we would pour out to her with
out reserve our heart griefs, always sure of
finding sympathy; yea, more, solace from
her Aud 80 swectly did she speak of pa.
tient resignation, Of holy faith, implicit
and child-like reliance on our Heavenly
Father, that we always felt stronger to bear
our various trials, after conversing with
her Of the truths of the gospel which her
patient spirit and holy walk so beautifully
exempliGed. 70 the hope which is foun.
ded on faith in Christ alone, she pointed
US as a balm for every wound, an anchor
sure and steadfast, when life's tumultuous
waves were rudely assailing our feeble
barks.
/" Miss Ena," cried, "tcach mo to be
good and angel-like as yon are. | saw
tear trembling in her soft blue eye, and
wondered why she would cry when we knew
she was good aud our young hearts twineC
40 closely around hers. "Call me not good
YOU know notmy bitter heart struggles will
sin. But there is a source, Nellie, to which
youand can go for strength, pardon, peac
and Joy, and not goin vain When wear
with earth's toilsand temptations, we turn il
yalu TO its allurements for aught of hop
or ioy, for they are transient as false TIL
peace which our Father gives, is everlast
ino. sure. Seek this 1t is the pearl @
great price" Thus daily did she convers
with those for whose Improvement she Ia
borel, shedding an influence for rehgio