Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-11-16
Written for the Spirit of the Age.
A delaid e, I he Orphan

lshlng town OF B, there resided not
many years ago, Horace Corprew, who was,
at the opening of our narrative, man Of
five and thirty years of age, though from
his personal appearance one would come
to the conclusion that he was much Older |
than that. His face, which had been so
remarkable for its extreme handsomeness
and almost feminine beauty, now looked
swarthy and bloated; his dark expressive
eyes were blood-shotten, and his mind,
which had been so well cultivated, was
nearly destroyed. The hone of this man
looked eas though it were deserted no
beautiful flowers which so gladden. and re-
fresh the heart of mankind, ever bloomed
there; nor were his rich tracts of land ever
cultivated-but suffered to grow up in
weeds and briars.
Mr.. Corprew was native of England,
but emigrated to America when quite a
young man, and being handsome and tai
ented, he succeeded in winning the atfec-
tions of an American lady, who was both
beautiful and wealthy. After remaining
in this country for eight or ten years, and
squandering nearly the whole of his estate
in drunken dissipation, he concluded to re-
turn to his native land.
1t was in the sweet spring time Of the
year, when the buds are clustering on eve
ry tree, the birds musical in every bower,
and the early violets hang their blue hinges
by the dewy wayside, Mr., c. and his fami-
ly took passage on noble craft for Eng
land. While on the voyage, terrible
Storm aroSo tba winds bowIad feroolu ond
the rain descended in torrents. Ever and
anon deafening peals of thunder could be
heard, and the lightning played with SER
pentine fury on the turbulent waters. The
sea was lashing itself in fury-bearing huge
waves on its troubled bosom, which broke
over the steamer in wild anger. The tenn
pest continued to rage until the dawn oi
/ day, when the vessel proved wreck and
of the vast number of people on board, al
were lost except very few, who saved
themselves by swimming until boat came
to their assistance.
Among those who were rescued, wa
Adelaide Corprew, daughter of the inebri
ate, who was saved by one of the fortunat,
passengers. A few days after her rescue
as she stood on the beach and gazed upol
the now Tranquil waters, she thus solilo
quized: 20 how desolate is my situation
in life how gloomy are my prospects !
Not one friend to look up to for protection
Would that | had perished with my dea
| parents there should have escaped muc
sorrow )" and she wrung her hands in al
guish. While the child was indulging i
this strain of despair, kind-hearted gel
tleman came up, and taking the little han
in his, told her not to despair, that althoug
she was an orphan, she was not friendles
for, said he, L have comfortable HON
and will take you to it, if you will consel
to CO. 4 very gladly accept of your kir
offer, my dear SIR said the little girl, If
/ am now an orphan, penniless and hom
less.'
} MIR. Stanly (fcr this was the gentleman
, name) was very humane man, and Of
; who possessed an abundance of this worl,
goods-yet he did not appear to be CO
2 tented His wife, whom he never low
, but only married for convenience sake, W
very contentious and ill-tempered W
: man-consequently they never lived ha
' PLY together. They were blessed wi
: but two children--Ida and Eugene. T
former was just old enough to commen
t going to school so she and Adelaide We
). constant companions, though they ney
S loved each other devotedly.
Ida had been informed, by some mea
:, that Adelaide's father was an inebriate, a
! she appeared to take great delight
: speaking of it while in the presence Of /
e sehoolmate. can intoxicated man." S
would say, sis the most disgusting thi
| ever beheld; and if I were the daugh
l. of one who would degrade himself SO mu
n as to get drunk, should feel SO disgrac
e that | should never have the presumpti
:. to associate with respectable people agai
i Such remarks were made for the purp'
q of notifying the feelings of the orph
> girl, though she never resented any thi
$, that was said to her, for she knew that {
W was dependent on Ida's father for 81
, port; and though she did not seem to ts
r notice of the insults offered, yet very oft
n after she retired at night, her pillow wo,
al be wet with tears.
~ The two girls remained at school until Il
= were fifteen years ofage, after which time
: Stanly said he must send them to female
!, lege, where they might complete their edu
ton. But unfortunately he was taken S
70 and remained so for several weeks. The pl
~ sieian whom they usually employed co
: do nothing to alleviate his suferings !;
= another, who had always been success
: with his patients, was sent for, but no so
y er had he examined the sick man than
- turned away with a sorrowful heart, for
- discovered he was dying. Mr.. Stanly i:
~ ~ knew he could not live many nome
= = longer, though it did not alarm him
= = he had many years ago sought and
m m tanned the 'pearl of great price" and
III III now ready and willing to die. He ca
AZ al each member of his family around his /
u, side and gave them all very good advic
~ ~ telling them not to weep for him, for
7, was going home-to that bright and be
-. ~ tiful home above, "not made with ha
80 eternal in the heavens" And quietly
~ spirit sank to rest:
nd On the following day the funeral t
he place, and vast number of people v
IL present, but none wore so sorrowful
i as Gid Adelaide Corprew, who knew
h;e had lost her dearest friend on earth.
Adelaide was not permitted to retur
school, but compelled to remain at b