Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-06-09
9ust's Corner.
"Half a Hundred Years AgO.''

Is too lengthy for transference to our cor A,
ms but we must not wholly deprive our :
aders Of the pleasure to be derived from
~perusal, so we compromise the difficulty
our inclination and our narrow I'm r.
}, by giyinga liberal extract from the Poem'
Twas the time when DER the nation 81
Hunga black and fearful pail, d
And the wing Of desolation il
Brooded darkly over all, I,
When the p~laintiye wall of anguish i
Drowned the ringing voice OF mirth, "
And the glowing embers smouldered =
On the lonely cottage hearth, Q
When the high-born spirit worshipped 7
At the Tempter's fatal shrine, j
And the FIRE Of Genius faded, I
Quenched within the sparkling wine,
q And the eye grew dim and sunken,
. And the firm, proud step, grew slow,
Ere there came o saying Angel,
Halfa hundred years ago.
There were tears and bitter wailings,
There we're groans that pierced the skies,
And through all the land the weary
Lifted up their swimming eyes
Childhood's heart, the pure and tender,
Shuddered meath q fathers frown,
And the patient soul Of woman
To the storm bent moaning down
Mighty men, the great and gifted,
Groaned beneath the fiery chain,
Meath the Rum Kings flaming fetter,
Burning into soul and brain;
Then the yestal fires Of Freedom
Faded from our virgin strand,
Deeper grew the sunless shadow
II was midnight in the land!
Oh, twas beautiful, twas holy,
When the faint and feeble light
Twinkled dimly through the darkness
OF the wild and ~starless night.
And the eyes all weary watching
Through tho long and lonely years,
Saw the mellow morning twilight
Through q mist Of happy tears;
Like the birth'star Of the Saviour,
Very still and soft it came,
Lighting up carth's mournful places
With its pure celestial flame,
Shining DER the cherries ~hearth>stone,
Giving back the olden glow,
To the pleasant cottage fire light,
Half a hundred year, ago.
Where the shapes of hell were wreathing
Round the lost, despairing soul
In the Babel dens ofmadness,
Even there the glory stole.
And there came q dewy %softness
Der the wild and glaring eye,
And the burning brow grew peaceful,
With q purpose calm and high;
Then the daring hand u%plifted,
Sheathed the reeking blade of Crime,
And the saved went out to conquer,
Girded with q strength sublime.
In the d%roopinp soul of woman,
Meath its weight of anguish bowed,
Hope unfurled her glowing pinion,
Like the rainbow in the cloud,
And sAe watched the sweet revealing
aahtd With her her sinking iiakkiRh a66tsart. -
And he deep praise Of her spirit
Into grateful song did flow,
For this Angel Of her household,
Half a hundred years ago.
Weary children saw the sunshine
Breaking through the leaden skies,
And the laughing light stole sparkling
To the mild beseeching eyes;
Ger the tiny forms that shivered,
In the blighting, chilling cold,
Warm and beautiful it quivered,
Turning all the gloom to gold
bweeter than the music swelling
From the princely palace dome,
Rang the voices Of the children,
In the ransomed ~drunkard's home.
Oh, tho Pledge! what blessings crowned
There was joy where'er it fell,
Guiding to the gushing fountain,
Where the crystal waters well
Turning midnight into morning;
flushing down the raging storm
Giving health, and grace, and yigor,
To the bowed and Keeling form
Mingliug music with the murmur
Vi the streams that cool did flow,
For the healing of the nations,
Half a hundred years ago.