Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-02-03
Cboiff giifratnre.
From the Richmond Christian Advocate.
Leaf from Teachers Portfolio.
BOYHooDs soL1LootJY.

hose scenes of delight, made sacred BY IN
locent amusements Give up the sun
'hine of merry childhood, and the CAV flow
srs that have bloomesl " beauty. and shed
sweet fragrance over the pathway of life.
or thetdnll routias s..ry school-boy
las Alas Wit 9aast feelinas 81 .lsaaa 9
10 l anticipate the change.s Methinks,
when confirmed In the harrow limits Of
school-room, can no longer, free as the
morning lark, sport with gladstone spirit
over the fowery mead, and in sportive In
nocence chase the winged butterfly.
For then irksome tasks will be imposed,
and there is nothing to the spirit like un-
controlled freedom. See, the lark is hap
piest when, with unf, red wing, it basks
in the sunlight of its native heaven.
[ once thought | would like to be
school boy, like Thomas or Samuel, who
can read and write, and tell such interes-
ting stories about Sinbad and Crusoe; but
since am noao school-boy, how different
the thought I find no pleasure in the con
tinued hum of dead sounds over my daily
tasks. Here, there is nothing, day after
day, but repetition of sounds and sylla-
bles. What can be the use of these artifi-
cial superauities /? [ thought as much and
talked as well, and am sure, was much
happier, when free from books I listened
to the music of the murmuring rivulet, or,
in some fond retreat, caught the sweet
notes of the mock-bird's song. 1t has had
no schooling, and It's strains are as melodi-
Gus as when first they woke to life o,
would [ were child again, < :
| am reoao studying the languages, and
am sure the Attic, Doric, and other dia-
lects, are useless to me, while the roots of
Latin verbs, | wish had never been found.
Their native land, am sure, would have
been much more congenial to their perfec-
ton, and there they did not mature, for
teacher says "they are roots of dead Ian
guage," and of what use can they be p
But teacher says "those things are to de-
velop the mental faculties, and maksme
familiar with the philosophy of language
When child, | am sure always had Ian
guage at command to expires my phiLoso-
ply | have been non for six, eight or ten
years learning the philosophy of language,
and | am sure | am not as happy as when,
IN llte's beauteous morn, | knew less Of
philosophy and more of language. But
soon am to leave this "royal road Of phil
osophy," and stand forth upon the theatre
of life-a man.
How my heart swells with bright anti
cipations of the future; when free from the
cares incident to boyhood, [ shall 90 forth
into the world man. Then farewell to
cares and to philosophy. 0, would | were
a man
MANHooD's soLLooUY.
Yes, | have just finished my education,
and now | am prepared for the pleasures
OF life. Hopes bright bow spans the arch
: way OF prospective years, while ten thou
sand beauteous images and dreams fit in
rapid review before me. The broad land
, scape OF life is spread before, dotted with
2 many scene of beauty and pleasure, while
$ hope reflects its borrowed hues to gladden.
e and gid the scene. Hope promises thou
sand different ways to pleasure. to profit
: and fame. These | will pursue, and bid
, ding defiance to what poets term Sgloom
: and grlet, III follow her beacon light, that
r stretches far out over the darkness of futu.
a rlty, and sheds resplendent beauty on the
: landscape of life.
G x
r | have noV been for years upon the broad
\ ocean of time; by experience had learn
ed, that mere, too, are trials, and all th,
d Pfeetosophy could have learned. woulC
3. have been needed for successful victory il
J the conflicts of life. | have been struo
7. Cling with waves of adverse fortune. Toss
l. ed by surges Of strife, over life's trouble,
a sea, need more certain beacon light
$ Hope, in borrowed hues, has long since be
as lied her gilded trophies, and. stripped Z
IN her plumage, leaves me to the storm an
I'd wreck; while surges, as they break owe
t my fragile bark, "rchearse my dirge
k woe."
III Would that, in boyhoods sunny hour
US in manhood's prime, had learned more
e- the philosophy Of thought, of language,
lr- life !; then would have some monitor
X point to me the shoals and quicksands q
ell the ocean Of time. Then might | ha,
summed the delusive phantoms that glin
ry mered over the landscape of life. and br
we ken the enchanting spells that led me a v
lu- tary to the shrines of Pleasure. But Il
golden moments of life have well nich pa:
ed; and bright visions of childhood. as tn,
rise from the cemetery of long buri
nd scenes, to revisit the heart now oyersha
Mt. owed with gloom, only awake to life t
M sigh, o, would were boy again
:. soLILoQUY OF THREE-scoRE AND TEN.
My silvery locks proclaim me the he
see of many hard fought battle in life's ce
er- ficts. Ny tottering steps but too plair
ces say | am approaching the verge of eter
-ier ty. Dimness steals over my sight. 7
ex- stars are to me not as brig;at as once th
ion were. The soft whisperings Of Nat,
he thrill no more the heart, that once b
lay high with hope, and was buoyant W
iza- bright dreams of visionary childhood.
as dim twilight seems constantly hover
un- over the face of creation, once bright W
IL poetry and music, while the melody of sol
aste from earth or air, comes not with such
4 is lchantmcnt on the dull listless car, as O
aer- it was won't Now, from this promont
lich of life, as gaze back down the vista of
era parted years, confused images pass in
view before me. From the dreamlanG