Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-11-03
G0iress' department.

After a long absence from my place in
the "AeE," | again essay to occupy it-if.
not regularly, at least as frequently as 9TH
er duties will justify. The long winter
evenings will soon be upon US, and afford
us time and inclination for literary pur-
suits; and it will be a pleasure to hold a
weekly chit hat with our dear old friends
Of the "Spirit"-with whom, though we
have long been absent in letter, we have
often been present in spirit. 1t is not with
any vain desire for adulation or eclat, that
l presume to lay my thoughts before the
public eye. / have no ambition Of this
kind to crafty. But my bctter-half and
other friends "keep after me-" las the girl
said by an incorrigible beau whom she had
to marry, to get clear Of his opportunities
and persuade me may do some good, by
inspiring some younger sister with courage
to give her soaring genius wings, and per-
haps add a little interest to the columns of
the Age. SO to get rid of their teazings,
/ draw out my pen and paper and address
my old friends once again.
But as l turn my eye around our little
sanctum, | find one chair vacant, from
which, when last / formed one Of the trio,
shone forth the bright scintillations of ge-
Mus, and around whose mild blue eye there
beamed 80 much Of gcntleness and good
ness. That vacant chair, and those grief
laden cries that come from his forest home,
tell us that WIN. VI. JOHNSON has finished
his course on earth and received the blest
inyitation-"come up higher" The tear
of sorrow flows unrestrained--yet not for
him-for lac was a christian-but for Il
loss. No more will his beautiful and pure
writings grace our columns-no more will
he counsel and admonish the hayward wan
derer from the path Of virtue and sobriety.
His pen is still, and that voice is hushed in
death-but though dead, he yet speaketh.'
Let us profit by the inspiring teachings he
has left behind, so that when we too are
called, it may be to go and meet him in the
skies.
For his deeply bereayed widow and or
phan infant children, we feel the warmest
sympathy. A shadow has fallen across the
threshold of that home which no sunshine
will ever dispel. No words of human con-
dolence can suage the anguish Of her strick-
en- heart. We will not dare enter the sa-
cred sanctuary Of her grief with words Of
human consolation but commencing her
to the guidance and protection Of Him who
has promised to be "a father to the father
less and the widows friend" we claim the
privilege Of fulfilling the admonition Of our
Saviour, to sweep with those who weep )"
for we too have lost a brother beloved.
To the Lady Contributors of the Age,
would like TO say q word or two. Sisters,
let us resume our old-time acquaintance
The time for evening meditations has re-
turned. We can make our correspondence
a source of much profit and improvement,
if we will make our themes worthy Of
thoughtful effort. Let us not be content
with the light prattle that comes yelling
up from Joyous hearts only. These are
pleasant, and we love to see them as indi
cations Of the happy hearts that promp'
them. But let us temper them will
thoughts that call the soul into action anC
give evidence of the true womanly spiri
that stirs within us. Let us not be eats
fed with a mere superficial sktn'm'ng owe
the surface Of our subjects, but descending
ITO their very depths, gather up those re
measures which arc imbedded there fk
@'gsns of purest ray" which the Poet tell
us the "caves Of ocean bear" Then shaI
we be profted ourselves, and we mag hop
profit others who shall read our lucubr'
tioss. But lest / be considered too Mer
.tohcaL | forbear, and close by saylng-l'
VIA hear from you, one and all.