Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-04-01
G1oirs Gfteraturf.


LIE zA+A QLEIS.
L promised to ten you about q The Ring.
lets,o did I? It's not much of a stor9.
but such as it is you shall have it, and as
there is no time better than now. lust draw
!; up to this honesl. open fire, and listen.
Turn down the gas, then there'll be light
enough to be cosy and not enough to see
my bushes.
+ Time a great many years ago, and
my Sophomora yea ID college.
Dramatis persos j. Philip Hamilton,
Esq. thai q and Margaret Win
free, Chat th asis ssg .ffslI ii love with.
- I SAID, 3 - : phoanofe Well, r
was younger than now and had heart
that throbbed like pocket valcano, at
the sight of a handsome GIRL especially if
she had eurls. Twas a fancy of mine then,
that angels wore curls. Eve lost that fan
cy now
1t was our spring vacation. During that
time I visited the city of Albany, where I
had an uncle living Taking stroll one
delightful spring morning through the su-
burbs Of the city, picked up miniature
of beautiful boy, exquisitely painted on
ivory. On the golden clasp was engraved
the name {" Isabella Delano." I applied
to my uncle for information. From him [
learned that Isabella Delano was the name
of an elderly lady of Southern extraction,
who had but recently come to the city.
He had accidentally become acquainted
with her through his profession Of
law-for to him she applied for aid in some
moneyed transaction. She attracted my
attention somewhat" he said, as she
seems to be lady of wealth, frely educa-
ted, accomplished, and evidently accustom-
ed to polished society, but lives here in the
most secluded manner, knowing no one and
apparently seeking no acquaintance She
has taken cottage a mile out, where
she and her granddaughter, who by the
way is an orphan and beautiful girl of
some seventeen years, live entirely by
, themselves [ will give you note of intro
ductlon," he added, g to the old lady, and
you can have the satisfaction of returning
the miniature, and seeing the beautiful
granddaughter" [ was not only willing
but anxious. found the cottage in a
sung, quiet spot, nearly hidden in shrub
berry, and the flower beds, and everything
about, showed the hand of taste and cul-
1 ture.
A servant took my note of introduction
and | was ushered into one of the most en-
chanting little parlors that ever greeted
my vision. Two or three rich paintings
hung upon the walls, a guitar was leaning
upon dIvan, aruuas. q Iaio psaeegs Of music
were lying gcarelessly A portfolio lay upon
} the table, upon which notes, letters and
drawings in all stages of execution were
: scattered in profusion.
l had but minute to make my obser-
, vatlons. | was conscious of football,
turned and stood face to face with the
: beautiful grand daughter" Mrs Lot
couldn't have been more firmly rooted to
d the place where she stood, when she found
e herself pillar Of salt, than was | before
:, this divinity. had thought knew what
: beauty was before, but now confessed my
ignorance. shall notify to describe her.
It The attempt to put her beauty into Ian
Il guage would be "a certain failure. Hergrea
= point of attraction, for me, was her hair.
1t was neither the raven black" of the
! J novelist, nor the poets auburn" (Which
= don't mean anything but red, } but peouli-
ar, rich, golden brown color that has no
| name, stolen from the dies Of summer
: sunset. Itwasn't "put up, nor crimped,
nor Jlggered but hung in cataract of dan
cling curls. She always wore her hair in
this manner; hence her sobriquet of " The
Rlnglets." Her eyes were as indescriba-
BILE as her hair. OF color peculiarly her
= own, they would pass under the general
- name Of blue, but of an intensity of mean
- ing that may be felt, but not described.
:. Did you ever see speaking eyes? Her
eyes would say more in single glance
- than the tongues of some girls I know
;. ; would say in a lifetime, if you'll believe
me.
! While stood entranced, she spoke =
: Grandmother is Ill this morning, she wish
es to be excused, and desires me to receive
Mr.. Hamilton"
= | made known my errand, and handed
e her the miniature. She gave scream Of
" delight, and with an texcuse me-" disap
peared
She was gone. I aoas too. She soor
same back didn't. / heard her voice
knew she was pouring out her thanks fo
restoring the miniature--had vague i'm
preston of her saying something abou
her dear little brother in heaven-but tht
tones of her voice enthralled me, and rem
. dered me obGvious to whatshe said. wa
lin blissful stupor. I stammered ou
!. something, don't know what, and started
: :. to go. She spoke of my uncle's kindnes
- - to them, since they had been in the city
IL and urged me to stay.-No; I was in
! ! pressing hurry. In that voice, she asked
: = me to call again, when she hoped her grand
!. = mother would be better. Thunder cloud
- - and grindstones, what did care for he
:" grand mother.
had lost my appetite for that day Th
Tn idea of coming down to beef and potatoe
on was revolving. did nothing all day bu
gs think of 1.-The Ringlets," and resolve tia
the rest of my vacation should be spen
lat in the city at Albany
aa leo How the time past you can imagin,
TO- to better than / can tell. Day after da
elf found me at that cottage. The granc
sti mother continued out of health, for whic
his generosity trust was truly grateful
re- ''The Ringlets" and were constant con
lie. panions. She talked, and was happy
.ha 10 She sung, and I was in raptures. 81
the the took me by the hand, and was deliriou
the Talks, and rides, and strolls by sunlig
and moonlight and tarlight,-dreamlig