Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-11

sity, flashes through and Eliminates our
inmost souls, like the beuignant face of the
glorious day-god, when bursting from be-
hind the straggling clouds, he pours his
bright food of beams upon grateful world.
Every one is acquainted with the oft
quoted and hacknied aphorism, that ''to
estimate the value or to experience the
benefits Of blessing, we must first feel its
want" Yet there is more genuine phi
losophy and more practical truth concealed
beneath the rough exterior of this stale old
apothegm than many of us are wont to sup
pose Aud if every individual we're to keep
this simple truth in view in the acquisition
of material possessions, we should find a
spirit of noble generosity and laudaDle
disregard, aye, even eoCt mpt, for the golden
mamn0n in the bosom 0 f Midas or Shy
lock To possess an adequate appreciation
of the enjoyment or qualification derived
from the gifts of nature, it is essentially
prerequisite to experience the ineonyeni-
euce or di,pleasure arising from its depri-
vation. The child never knows the great
debt of gr4titude, love and veneration
which is due 10 the mother which bore
him, until he is torn from her embrace by
the stern detnana of duty, or she has pro-
nounced her fual benedictlon and lain him
down to slunber 10 the quiet home of the
dead. The wearied pilgrim over the burn
ing sands of the desert, as he throws his
tagging frame beneath the grateful shade
Of the oasis, aud slakes his raging thirst
at the sparkling stream, murmurs "never
was rest so refreshing, never was nectar So
sweet" The sun always shines with a.
more brilliant lustre as he emerges from
behind the gloomy cloui, after season of
conceaiment; the melody of the joyous
Warblers of the grove, is far more enraptur-.
ing when spring first unbinds winters icy
fetters from around the earth, and scatters
l upon her bosom her wealth of smiling fow-
4 ers.
The truth is alike pertinent as to the
enjoyment of health as that of other boons
, flowing from our Fathers hands. No in
dividual can possibly realize the full amount
of happiness afforded BY the possession of
our physical energies ia all the buoyancy
of vigorous strength, unless disease has
previously fastened its merciless fangs upon
|, them. Little does he whose frame has
J never felt the agony of pain, or whose bos-
ON has never been torn with the anguish
n of grief, know of that grateful rapture
, thatalmost exuberant delirium of joy, which
/ pervades the bosom of the poor invalid, !,
/ when disease for a while relaxes its re-
i morseless grasp and presents to his sensi-
: bilities a foretaste of that ineffable bliss
which awaits him, when his Deliverer shall
) strike off the shackles Of affection and pro-
3 nounce him free indeed And were there
! no other consideration to reconcile us tc
V our condition-had we not the glorious as
! surance that our sufferings were working
! out for us ssfar more exceeding and etern
: al weight Of glory;" this alone should b.
" sufficient to induce US to bow without
murmur to the chastenings of that hand
? whose blows, though they may seem severe
" are always so attempered as to be endure
I. BY the feeblest child OF earth.
If But these transitory moments Of happi
TO ness are but the prelude and the foretast'
: of ceaseless duration of exquisite bliss
ts which is reserved for such as have sui
he mitted to their sufferings with christian
ed resignation and fortitude, when this COZ
of ruptible shall put on ipcarruptibllity"-
- and when their rejuvinated frames, raj
ON somed from the thraldom ofsin, shall roaI
IN. the Elysian fields in the fair cline of eterl
s. al youth and vigor Glorious reflection
th that few more days of probation aud tria
nd and our enfranchised spirits shall bid far
las well to their frail tenements of clay an
ese wing their triumphant flight to our Fat
EN- er's home, where they shall be crowne
he with dazzling diadems in which each pan
cu- endured, each temptation withstood. eac
ne murmur repressed shall sparkle like radia
or. gems. A few more butfetings upon tt
- surging pillows of time, and our tempes
ast tossed little crafts shall be safely moor
cm into the haven of eternal rest; where Ill
ian the weather beaten mariner, who after
nm dangerous and tempestuous cruise, driy'
W. to and fro by adverse winds, wrecked up
ide hidden reefs and rocks, at length ID pt
om United to recline his wearied head up
It the warm breast Of loving wife VIII
less prattling ofspfings Chamber around
h . knee; we shall find the bliss of that hap
!. / place far more exquisite than if we b
,ou- been waited on our voyage by perful
md DIeezeS peuesttn d Sculd4 SAy Ay-ayS, thS
not joyments doubly enhanced by every pc
,re- we have braved, every obstacle overcom
ted What more need I say, my strick
this brother, to prove the efficacy of affection
,er. what more to reconcile you to your lot a
,ins to induce you to exclaim even when
tvs chastenings are the most severe,
un- NV Father thou gavest the bitter cup
Law bow to thy behest and drink it up!
Great God of Heaven, bow to thee,
u0u Thy holy will be done,
IN Righteous and true thy dealings are
;lful To all beneath the sun.
ich,
4 sol IF doomed affiiction's rod to bear,
arm The fault is surely mine;
low lWers nnplous, n;y' .he 49, D'O'' 1N'uS
fer 'N " ''--
npo- Yet human wisdom. circumscribed,
ap- Is ready to complain,
vent Unmindful that Omnipotence
ming Doth never act in vain.
~ &c An atom in Thy universe
80 Is all we can desery,
nose A point in Times infnitude
emo Fills up the mental eye.
entity
hing; Thine eye surveys the mighty whole
Whiah fills immensitV