Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-09-07
III.

"In this degenerate age, men estimate char
acter by a cas- -balance."
1t was q blue and breezy May morning,
when Henry Raymond and his beautiful
young bride entered their pretty and pleasant
cottage home on - Street. 1t was, indeed,
a "sweet home" white and modest in physi-
ognomy, set down amid thick shadow-weav-
ing naples, and clambering vines, that
wrought lattice work around the cool little
portico, and low, wide windows. A snow
white paling shut in the grassy, flower
hemmed yard, and beyond the cozy cottage,
you might catch, through the dark breezy
hall and lace-veiled windows, sweet glimpses
of the luxuriant garden, with its winding,
pebbly walks and sea of fragrant blossoms
floating upon an undulating surface of deep
green billowy leaves.
t Nina Raymond, the.f rail bride, was lust
blushing into womanhood-fair as a lilly of
the valley, and modest and unassuming as a
}, meek spring violet. Her soft, heavenly blue
}, eyes, clear and liquid as a cloudless June sky,
= looked melting tenderness through long, cur
wing black lashes, upon her handsome and
manly bridegroom, and clustering curls of
e richest hazel hue, rippled in silky clouds,
n over plump shoulders of spotless purity and
e round, transparent cheeks, that wore only
the delicate tinge of the wild rose, save when
sensibility painted them a richer red.
n Henry Raymonds black eyes grew brigh-
ter, and his tall graceful form dilated with
proud exultatioa, as he looked upon the fair
n prize he had borne off in triumph, from so
many bold aspirants, richer in worldly goods,
but not more noble than himself. His wooing
had been attended with many doubts and
fears, owing to ambitious and mercenary
q, parents, and now that the object was attained,
he appreciated it more fully, because of diff
f~iculties he had encountered and surmeunted
1g in accomplishing the desired end.
a. Nina's parents, though aspiring and ava
%ricious, were devoted to their beautiful child
ne and through solicitude for her failing health
g the effect of opposition in her dearest desires
IN they yielded a reluctant consent to her mar
Ut rage with Raymond, and saw her 90 forth
ns from her early home, to meet the response
bllltles, and perform the duties ola wife, will
no fear for her future happiness, but deep re
U. greet that she had not chosen one whose De
cuniary circumstances would have elevate,
her to a loftier social position, Ninasscirl
bic heart had been won by the nobleness OF. Her
:, ry Raymond's soul, combined with the beau
iu ty of his person and evident devotion, an
ess love in a cottage was far preferable to he
re- pure mind, to splendor of surroundings an
- unsatisfed affections.
Years passed quietly and prosperousl
aS away, and a little trio, of which Mary was IL
&C eldest, fitted and frolicked through the viii
en- cottage, and tracked the neat flower beds
the blooming old garden, to the offence of n
mas well developed organ of order.
Mary inherited the dark eyes, raven Gu,
and intrepid spirit of her father, and gre
with years, into a beautiful and graceful gi
nd the admiration of the opposite sex, and en-,
10 of her own. Her fifteenth birthday was ce
brated in an elegant mansion, filled with t
all elite of the city, in a style COMFORTING wi
the wealth and high station of the man vi