Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-04-14
Eagles, aspartn'nt.
Written for the Spirit Of the Age.
OAK DALE "REMINISCENCES.
ny LIMA LEE.
(CoSrINUED FROM OUR LAsT.)
THE BOARDING SCHOOL.

hA0IOoAtluis Us bNtIc are lhCeS. 1Ou Will II
find a modern Cleopatra, the beauty ofthe
school, exercising in a limited degree the
power which beauty has ever given, from
the time of thc beautiful Egyptian Queen
to the present day. As it was then, so is
1t not now, a fearful gift! Avid, frolick-
some girl appears in the sisterhood a gen
tie loving one; a proud imperious one;
and a bright genius, devoted TO literature
Il reserved and sensitive one,
Whom many seorn, a few may love,
But none will understand :"
Whose life passes away, and the h~eart-ac-
tons not appreciated. 1t was a pleasant
summer day when Efie and Leila arrived
at the Oak Dale Seminary, a Furnishing
high school for young ladies' under the
gcare ofthe. Misses L4aceg-TaJ-7E1
l:rge and beautifully situated on a slight
eminence, which commanded n pleasant
view Of the surrounding country, with the
sweet little village of p, half embow-
cred in trees only half a mile from Oak
Dale. The grove around the house was
large, and here and there might have been
seen groups Of light.hearted girls, sitting
beneath the towering oaks some study
ing, others talking and amusing themselves
in various ways. Ellie noticed that they
all seemed to enjoy themselves very much.
"Oh Leila, | am sure we will be very
happy here for two years but oh, how |
shall want Willie. What shall | do with
out him Who will teach me what my
duty is"
willie would tell you to look to a high
or power than he, Efic."
NNas aud I Wii frVr apl y,0, sb,l bo ,n,
Mentor, Leila darling"
"IIush, Efie It's you who should be my
guide. To you | owe all that | am or will
be; | mean as the instrument. You will
never know how grateful | am to you"
Miss Lacey received them kindly, con-
Quoted them to a neatly furnished room and
left them with the kind wish that they
might be very happy. They were not re-
quircd to 90 into the school-room that
day but still, before the day had closed,
they had formed the acquaintance ofmany
Of their future companions. One, a mild,
dove-likc creature, with her poet-soul fash
ing through her large wondering blue eyes,
came and knocking gently at the door, in
yitcd them down to tea. She asked in a
sweet low tone, if they had recovered from
their fatigue. Efie answered politely,
while Leila could only gaze on the spirit.
like girl before her, and think-'Oh, how
fail how lovely At tea they met for
the first time the entire family. 1t passed
pleasantly, with n few questions from Miss
Lacey, relative to their. Journey. After tea
the great bell was rung and the young la
dies assembled in the parlor. MissIHeler
Cldcr, MISS sophia Lacey, prayed 4 most
ferycnt prayer, not forgetting in her peti.
tons the two who had Just entered the
family circle; and then they retired to theil
rooms.
Not long after reaching their room, the
same little one who announced tea to them
entered the room and in her musical voice
asked if she could do anything to make
them comfortable z Leila who had more
enthusiasm than Efie, threw her arias
around her and said-"O, YOU are an an
gel, Lefty Leighton; a very angel" En-
barrassed by this sudden expression oflov,
she hurried away, b~iddingthem goodnight
Long after the others had fallen asleep
Ellie and Leila sat there in their still quie
room, the calm moon-bcams refectinp thei
silycry light around their brows the pal
stars silently watching them. Their mem
cries were busy. The days of their youtl
seemed again before them their friend.
their home all, seemed so dear vet the
were not unhappy. The future was bripl
before them. Trey thought of the tim
when they should return to their HON,
bearing with them that rich blessing, a Gu
tiyated mind. They thought of poor Wi
lies JOY to have them home again of DOC
Mr.. Roberts emotions of pride when h
should behold his dear pupils so much in
proved They talked of the past, Ii
present the future. All, if they had bee
endowed with the gift of prophecy an
could have torn aside the dark veil wbic
divides the future from the present, VIII.
would they have scent Their life patl
devious, winding through fowery vale
DER rugged mountains brows, beside Gle
limpid streams, anon in dark and gloon
c%averns, with portontous clouds of darkne
hanging around them then the brirhtne
OF the noon-day sun, almost consumil
from its very light, yet terminating on d
dark shore of the river of Death "a,
there beside its waters of terror. stood I
blessed hopE-ASGEL, pointing with 70
fingers far over the broad river, to {
Anew Jerusalem" coming Town from abe
AuOIReQ as Il DTlue lot nef husband w
her glittering streets. and o'erlaid with %
and 'riyers of delight !" with no 'teml
therein, for the Lord God Almighty a
the Lamb are the temple of it." 1
should they ever reach that happy plaC
The way might be long and difficult, a
Efie and Leila felt their own weakne.
but in that consistent the strength of
Christian "when | am weak, then am
strong" Their lives seemed alike no
their paths side by side the time '
coming when they would "diverging Ii
The lot Of one would be to labor, to 8
ito dare" to be a laborer in the world h
vest the other to suffer the "righte,
will" to bear with a strong heart-to W
her life away in n~oiseless duties, to mi
stern sacrifices unknown to the world "
a cheerful heart, but known by Him '
searchest the heart ready to reveal then
the last day.
The sun was shining brightly, when
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