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

Vas borne to him the swelling dirge A
dying immortality. n
md she, who by him sat, possessed g
| heart too virtuous to oppose y
he zeal magnanimous, which led 9
sacrifice, and strife, and pain, y
'or truth and happiness and Heaven. s
Ie spoke, with trembling voice and low: n
Tomorrow, Linda, ! must haste s
TO scenes Of strife, in distant lands, Z
10 strike for those who never die .
TO live for Him, who lives for all. 4
'Twould be earth's Eden, could ! stay, 2
Through all my life, at home with thee.
Thou knowest this, and yet | feel
Thy heart would love me less-should love
Prevail to conquer virtues power
And make me sheathe the sword Of Truth.
I'm here once more-but gone again,
Long years must pass ere | return.
With me, remember, life itseLf
And memory Of thee arc one.
But ere | go-rd give to thee
A souvenir which shall recall,
With angel tongue, my name in hours
When precious memory's most dear
And hallowed thoughts most hallowed are.
! will not leave the lovely flower;
IT'S pure and dearly beautiful,
And speaks a language full ~ofloye;
But, Linda, flowers early fade,
They change with every beam and breeze;
They will not emblem we'll a heart
Which beats-like ~mine-forever true.
! will not leave a sparkling gem
The golden gcwgaw or the pearl
For though they have a magic tongue
That speaks with potent charms to some,
Vet oaJJ 9aL IsamnaaI Ju~.K # Fl
To hearts so excellent as thine.
| viii not leave on gilded page
The painted vows which poets dream
Nor aught Of all the weird pen
Has written TO reveal the heart.
Books are not boso0B They are born
Too oft where only thought prevails;
And symple types can never tell
The faithful fervor Of a soul
Which glows and thrills with ~ceaseless love.
And booksl Ma made them +; saving one,
Inc that i gave thee years agone.
viii not leave tho spoken vow;
Fen as ! speak, the echo dies
Forever to the mortal ear.
will not leave my miniature:
IL does not SMILE smile for thee;
It does not pray-I pray for thee
IL does not look with burning beam
The living energy Of soul;
'Twould seem to be myself, and still
Twould be a mockery of me.
Behold yon sweetly radiant star!
IT'S there all seasons Of all years;
While others may now fit away
To gayly beam in other skies
Tk,af alu.ny go l,nLg n,I 20 Nkn - -
And never wearies Of tits nome. e
The clouds may overshadow it,
'cSe sun ,,pfyicndly solendor hide;
or when inc dazzling day is done -
IL shines all lovelineSs again.
IL is a tenant Of the sky
It's rays are pure-no earthly stain
Makes aught Of its soft brilliancy.
II shines by night-to guide the dews
Or visits TO refresh the flowers.
II shines by night-like one who loves
Tranquility and sacred peace.
1t shines by night-as faithful hearts
Seek kindly for the scenes Of gloom.
1t shines by night-when nature sleeps
Thus blessing earth-when earth knows not
II shines by night-directing those
Who wander over painless hills
Or ride the waves with compass lost
That star, and that alone, | leave.
My love is pure as star.light's pure
It's changeless as perennial beam
Twill be the same though parting clouds
Shall lower long and dark between.
Behold it, then, and call it hiae!
To me IL shall a beacon be
Commanding every deed Of life;
Not that I'd serve thee more than Heaven.
But that | know thy will to be
That ! should only Heaven serve.
As did the Star Of Bethlehem,
II shall proclaim with every ray
The language of eternal hope;
And tell as Of that higher home
Where forms, like stars, shall live TO shine
And souls, Ike stars, be high in Heaven.
Twill lead ms to look up to Him
Who made the stars to make US blessed.
Twill tell us Of the love-the power
The wisdom and the grace of Him
Who deigns to be our Father God.
Then, dearest Linda, we can pray,
And constant hope, despite all fate,
That He will lead us once again
To happy union-either here
Or in the purer light Of Heaven"
Here Linda wept-and weeping, smiled:
Nor was II strange; for in a world
Where shade and sunshine often ioin.
The hearts are few that feel not Oft
Deep cause to mingle tears with smiles.
Then weeping, smiling Linda spoke:
Dear Morven, ever be thyselfl
I'll think Of thee-Pll cherish thee
I'll pray for thee-rn love but thee.
BE sure to think Of this and me!
Remember me each fieeting hour
Aye, every moment think Of me;
And be each thought Of me q call
To strike for duty, truth and Heaven.
We seek the same bright Home. Good b
Wen meet again, perhaps, on earth
If not on earth-stH shall zoe meet"
Years fed. away. Each dusky eve
Would Linda wander to the spot
Where she and Morven wept ''adieu."
When there she'd cast . fearful glance
To erect the gentle little star