Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-10-27
For the Spirit of the Age
MUSINGS.

The moon unveils her siivery brow, and
softly ascends her star-gemmed throne as
queen of night-the laughing eyes of hea-
ven are reflected in the clear crystal waters
Of the seattle flowers that had retired
within the tiny chamber of their dewy
leaves, gently uncurtan their weeping eyes,
while the moonbeams, stealing between
their pearly lids, cause them to shine with
a silvery glow.
The evening zephyrs too, arc influenced
by mystic nights magic spell and cause
them, as they murmuring pass, to seem to |
whisper memories Of the golden past
There seems. to be sadness still and quiet
as the pale ray Of the moon itself, in the
flood Of silvery light that wells all nature.
| know not why it is, but there is always
a peculiar but pleasant feeling that steals
DER me at this time; earth then is so beau
titul. 1t is then I feel my own inferiority,
while gazing up to natures God. Youths
golden romances have faded away, but at
such a moment thought awakens and fancy
springs to life, and joining hand in hand
they swiftly speed far back in the "dm
vista of time" Far, far off, like the faint
outline of distant shore, | view the beau
tiful festive scenes of my childhood.
Recollection paints the time when with
a few gay and joyous companions, ! would
sit for hours and gaze on those gems of
night Our teacher had taught us that
each one was world, and might be inhab-
tied like ours. Our imaginations conjured
up thousand shapes, such as fairies take,
and young fancy plumed her joyous wings
for her widest, lottiest, and most glorious
flight. Fair reign of bliss, sweet scenes of
my youth are passed, yet memory portrays
them in all their innocent simplicity. 0
We grcf-worn hearts, look around you, at
such an hour and forget your troubles
Let memory bear you backward to the
time, when a fathers hand guided your
wayward steps, and amother's voice lulled
all thy childish sorrows. As the stars
shine through avale of darkness with a purer
light, so let hope peer through Gfe's dark
hours upon thy soul, and lighting up its
chambers dispell all clouds Of sorrow and
gloom.
There is a charm in the bright orb OF
night which the bright orb Of day never
gives to the eye. 1t is then ! would draw
aside from the gay and frivolous that often
surround me, and indulge in few moments
of solitude. | sometimes like to be alone
particularly at this hour, and examine the
memorials Of other days.
There are treasured names we never speak,
There are songs we sing no more;
= There's a line in an album, lock of hair
! That speaks Of The days of yore.
delight in looking over such tokens o
= departed ones. That long black tress o
u hair Already the death dew rests upol
the pure brow it so beautifully shaded
they have lain her in the quiet graveyard
u 4 and this lock is all that is l;ft to reminc
u me of the bosom companion of my youth
= A sadness steals DER my spirits in pensiv
strains, for her memory can never be erased
= She was a dear, confding friend not on
" of those summer friends that around L
;, gather, and lay their offering on friendship
Il holy shrine, while prosperity surrounds u
u Al, no: hers was a different friendship
= deep. true, immortal as the soul. uC
: merry laugh drove care from my heart
\ but the monster death tore her from IN
= arms-broke link in my early love
= - plucked a bright gem from the coronal
! ! my early friendship. | know that the 50
= gentle beams of that loving eye are foreg,
: : darkcucd- sunny smiles that playe
= around those lips forever chilled, but 81
~ II has gone to happier home, where sorro
I cometh not and fond hopes are thus rude
!. ! blasted Why mourn then; | know s.
~ is happier than if still by my side; yet t
y while my heart lost all its melody, a
, her favorite songs seemed harsh to l
!" when breathcd by other voices.
oh Here is a simple verse written in an ev
= distincthand. Twoyears have elapsed sil