Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-11-25

AANNh - AAN - ~ ~ n ACAOUtDIt anu |
being so much pleased with it, | have, with
out leave or license transferredi it to my col
umn. In my feeble Judgment, It is a gem
of real Poetry, and gives assurance Of a mind
rich in beautiful thought and glowing image
ry. There is the ring Of the pure metal in
It's silvery tones, and in after years we ex-
pect to hear her lame sounded as one Of the
most gifted Of her sex in our good old State
SHADOWS.
Twas evening
The gladstone birds had ceas'd their merry song
OF welcome to the beauteous Queen of spring :
The sunsets skies had flung their golden
CLEANS
Upon the green grass, wet with silv'ry dew.
And the earth was rob'di in her twilight garb.
Alone | sat, musing on mans frailty
His shortlived hopes-the phantoms he
pursucs
And rs the fick'ring light fell on objects
Round, the rudy CLEANS, tospectral shadows
S'em'd to give monstrqus shapes and real life,
@ASmkenceold f1ey 81 ne at maKic's bidding.
First saw a DARK andcheerless shore,
On which the hoary rocks on rocks arose,
'Gainst which dashed the maddened pillows
OF ocean and leaping up, the salt spray
Froze andstood in mid air. Tall pines rocked
BY the stormy winds, bent down their heads,
And ever and anon, one by one yielded
To the blast.
Then came fierce Winters realm, with sterile
Plains, and rugged hills, and shores that
stretched
Their bleak capes far outon the cold blue seas ;
Along which slowly crept a gallant ship,
Winding her track, as if to feel her way
Through fearful fields of rugged ice-bergs,
Which skirted out, as if .interminable
Now, the north wind walked and f~erceiy blew
The wild waves ragged and mercilesslyT beat
On shore, and sea, and ice, and gallant ship,
That l~iye-long dark and dismal dreary night.
And when the gray streaks Of morn, signaled
BY icy peaks that loom'd to touch the sky,
Arose and broke, / saw that ship no more.
Then, still entranced, | saw a lovely group
OF merry boys and girls in hey-day robes,
Who seemed enchanted in mirthful sports,
AS they are wont on May-day festivals.
They walked and danced amid the sunbeams,
Or lowly knelt, to pay their homage to
The fairy Queen. But while | wistful gazed,
The shadow fitted by, quick as all our
Earthly pleasures do, and was left alone.
Next, | saw a bridal train led on by
One, in the morn of life, whose ev'ry path
Ilum'ed by sunshine, had chosen one, to
Walkathis side throughout this hopeful world,
To bear with him life's ills, and share it's Joys.
With heaven beaming in their eyes, | saw
Across the village green, the happy pair,
With grooms and bridesmaids, quickly trip
along
The winding street which led them to the house
OF God. There my eye follow'ddown the aisle,
Till lost amid the shadow'y mist, vision
Faird to trace them to the holy altar,
Where they vow'd eternal love, and promise
To be one.
Now, Aoated by a lovely scene, deep hid
From human view. Twas the humble home
OF thesturdy pioneer, off in the forests heart
Where silence reign'd: the curling smoke, amid
The arching branches wound its slow way
upward,
: And the full horn'd moon poured down he
beams,
Bafled by tangled vines, bamboo and limb,
Which shed a mellow tint on all around
The wood-bine and jasmine swung in wild
Festoons, which made fantastic crowns as ga
As monarchs wear; and there the tiny leave
Danced in the balmy air Of June. But lol
The spoiler came-the savage of the wood
And with revengeful malice, to the humbl &C
Piled n faggot, and soon ~fiercest flames lit u
The sombre nightof those primeval solitude
And left not a trace to tell where dwelt
The hardy woodsman.
Again | looked: a noble city,
An emblem Of the summers bloom, came flu
I'm view. There the sweet Orange grove
flung down
Their golden fruit, inikind and measure, ric
Enough to tempt the most fastidious
Honey dropped from the sweet Acacia,
The Magnolias spread their fragrant breath
Upon the soft south winds, and roses rare
From ev'ry cline, filled ev'ry crevice
OF the encircling air, with their perfume.
But suddenly, throughout its lanes
And streets, deep silence DER this city
Hung portentously. As we breathless wa
To hear the crash of some uplifted bolt,
Which has been long treasured for our door
So youth and age, male and female, sat NUT
Or stood with eager ear appraised, to catch
The first breathings ofthe angry storm-clol
Which was to fall on their devoted city
And sure II came with measured pace,
The poisoned breath of grim Pestilence
Then hoated in every spicy breeze,
And now lurked in every flower
Itcrept with stealthy step from house to houS
Spreading gloom and death along its track
Next, bright Italian skies, and sunny vale
And v~ine-elad hills, coniured up for me
A little Paradise. 1t seemed to be
The festive vintage time, when hard labor
Lighters into mirth. For now the peasan'
loulilS CllulD u Ine trees, WfeaJneuW WIN WIN
And dropped the sweet purple fruit below
Todark-ey' dmaids, who on their turban'dhea
Bore willow baskets, which now they file,
With mellow grapes, and onward bent
Their steps at eve to cheer their mounta
homes.
Next came the mighty sweep Of ocean way
saw a steamship, cramm'd with stirring
Boldly dashing on her venturous way
Then came a shock The noble ship, wound
Staggered, then plunging, beat on her ira
Butthrough the hidden death-wound leapeC
The treacherous waves, and bore her doV
wards.
Then came the maddened rush, the sh
shrek
OF fear, the pallid cheek Of men who drea
To grapple with the grim monster. 'Twast
That helpless women and their babes; then
The coward inidel who wish'd to flee,
And the tall strong man, looked up to Go
Death clutched them from the tow ring W;
The ship seem'd one vas, unvarnish'd col
And the troubled sea one hideous grave.
Children now nestled on their mother's bre'
As if TO close their eyes on dismal sights
Wives chung TO husbands heart to heart
Young lovers stood, clasp'd in others arm
While the hungry flood like a great mon
Yawned, as if certain Of its prey.
Down beneath the gurgling waves the stea
Plunged. and all was still as death.
Sick with a sight so dark, so fearfully
Anguishing, | turned me round, and theI
Arose a bright and lovely scene, such as
Angels love to gaze upon.
A Hl~s4,,,a e.ats,nI XcnAh ord ona u-ara IN