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

making all around her happy. A smile was
ever playing over her sad face cheerful |
word was spoken to every one. There was
not family in A., who did not welcome
her as guest, and she was aunt Ruth to all |
the children of the village. In the cottages of
the poor, by the bed Of suffering, she moved
as ministering angel. Talented, educated,
lovely, yet she was an old maid The time
was; it was said by the matrons, when she
was the belle of the village, the " goodlie
star of the companie." Her voice was the
most musical--ber laugh of the "siIvery
ssound"-her step the lightest and her heart
happy all the day long. Though she was
kind 20 all, she firmly said no to every pro-
posal for her heart which, at eighteen was
free as rs Wild zaz s-Esssss Bat ii.
last Cupid, conqueror of hearts, numbered
her for one of.hfs victims.
Phe victor who won her heart was a stranl
ger. One beautiful afternoon in June, be
alighted at the village hotel His noble form,
his stately bearing, proclaimed him one of
natures noblemen. The intellectual beauty
OF his countenance did not detract from his
charms. The next day was the Sabbath
As the last echo of the hymn, trembling with
harmony, died away in the village church,
the stranger, Clement Ryland, entered the
house of God. The aged man of God spoke
with less effect than usual to the village girls,
Tor the handsome stranger occupied the
greatest share Of their thoughts
lie saw Ruth Irwin, and to see her was to
toOe heT, and the next week they became ac-
quainted, and as weeks rolled away, became
companions. Together they roamed over
tiowery dales and beside the ripling streams.
Happy in each others society, thinking not of
the past or future, time passed by and the
/ parting hour had almost come. Ruth's friends
perceived that the handsome stranger had
won the heart of their favorite, and they
trembled for her happiness. Wild and i'm
pulsive, they knew she was, and fearful
would be the effect, if her child-lkie trust
should be destroyed Clement Ryland was
a stranger. When warned by her friends
she replied with an arch smile" Don't fear
for Ruth Twins heart"
The day before the one appointed for the
departure Of the fascinating stranger, he call
ed to bid Ruth farewell. He had not told
Ruth that he loved yet she knew it well !;
for there is an uIwritten language Of loves
by which hearts communicate without the
aid OF words. Ruth" he whispered, 81
leave this beautiful village to morrow, unwil-
llngly as Adam left the fowery garden of
Eden. Will you listen bile speak to you
OF the present. the future? l need not tell
you that love you fondly-this you know
but may dare hope that you will be mine
will bear you away from this unfriendly
CLINE, where summer reigns in unrivalled
beauty, but winter, stern and cold sits mon
arch over summers dying beauties, to
brighter, lovelier CLINE, where | will worship
thee as the Persian does the King of day"
thought not to hear SUCH w6fug frUh you.
But l love you, Ruth. How can l be
silent, and leave you here. cannot, can
not. Will you bid me hope; or will you
consign me to despairf"
The impulsive girl, who had his image en-
shrined in her heart, had schooled that heart
to be calm but she loved, and e'er the in.
terview had closed, she had promised to 60
willing bride, to be the sunlight of the stran
g GERS home. She trusted with woman's fonC
confidence, her earthly happiness to him
It feeling that he would guard it as precious
- trust, the richest boon that earth could give
1t and so fully did she trust that no gloom,
,e cloud of doubt seemed to rest over the fai
IS skies of her future happiness and with
d promise of unchanging fidelity they parted
l. Time passed rapidly away, and still n
,e letter came The rose faded from the cheek
D. of Ruth Irwin, and the light ofjoy went OF
r. from her heart in pale, glimmering hop'
of beam. Her bright eye lost its brillianc
ly and the enthusiastic, light hearted girl b
In came pensive, earnest woman. A shaC
en- of thought rested camly on her pale brow
gs her steps became slower but more stately,
d. tardy months passed by. Though all saw 81
nd suffered, she uttered no reproachful, bitt
rs words against the deceiver. His name W
10 to her q Forbidden sound. 1t was fiery c
sst deal for the young heart; and though
bowed low to the ground. as the wild fore
,ut oak bends when the raging storms sweC
oy rudely over its huge branches, yet breaks nj
me so her heart lived on, not broken-but crus
to edits most delicate framework pierced
ov many sorrows.
ad Ruth came forth from the trial bett
pa girl. The heart had been subdued, the drC
nd consumed and the precious metal doubly
ith fined to shine with increased lustre for ma
SITS days. Not looking on the world with
no hopeful feelings of one whose every brig
IS. dream had bee fondly realized, she cou
he form her expectations more reasonably. 5
,ry had trusted One-had been deceived; S
ng would not now refuse to believe in the inte
th rity of all thus avoiding Scylla and shr
nat ming Charybdis. Her heart gained new
uf- pulses, new strength, new motives to perto
Dry her duty. Think not that she had forgott'
rit- or would ever forget. 1t is not thus that '
yri- unshaken hills The winds of adversely NJ
ars rudeful howl around and then mournfu
ina sigh over departed conidence-yet love
avs still there, rising, Phenix like, from the as
er of hope. She did not suffer herself to s.
s in into dependency, but with a strong he
for she lived for those who loved her.
rief Many sought by faithful devotion to
to suage her grief, and wished to take the cru
and ed flower, whose fragrance was far swe,
i on than when it bloomed in beauty, to renew
sun fading beauty beside their home altar
Init Ruth Irwin never could love again. In
now spring of life she had given her heart av
rob the autumn of her existence would find
stow unchanged; and her hand she would not
does tow without heart-and she a0ds an
give, maid!
ived, You who with sneer and q look of
nish' tempt utter this as a reproach do you
lived. admire the true heart that scorns to act a
sews which lives on, with hopes blasted
5 not unappreciated, rather than stand beside
maids holy altar and swear to love one whom
know knows she never can, even though we
con- the idol of the world, that touch-stol
Ince character, the gilded glare which hide
to be many faults, and magic like changes
more that cannot be hidden, into pecultGritiC
e be- even this should be refused-and the
yelina live in she sepulohre of its departed hop
Q life In the midst of the gay crowds who
n poe with hearts filed with awe and reveren
seam the mighty Niagara which thunders il
sublimity over the rocky precipice, Ru
y one vim saw Clement Ryland. Well was il
at her ,heir eyes met when by one Of the mig