Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-05-18

AS though It's waters ne'er could sever, =
Yet, ere it reach the plains below, S
Breaks into floods that part forever. a
LALLA ReoKH. v
Years have rolled away, ''swept beneath I
the silent wing of time" and little Minnie I
Forest is now five years of age. She was a :
perfect fairy in her tiny loneliness. Sunny '
curls falling to her waist, eyes blue and ten '
der, like violets stepped in dew, coral lips .
and cheeks of roses-she was a lovely pic I
ture; a study for q painter. And so thought
all who saw the beautiful child. But those
who should have gazed upon her with the !
deepest admiration and loYe, were, or seemed
to be, the most Indifferent.
Changes have occurred in the home of
Henry Forest. The house looks neglected.
Where once the gay and the beautiful crowd
ed its halls, but few visited it. 1t looked
lonely, sad, in its gloomy grandeur. And
where is Ella, the mistress of that mansion
Sitting, or rather reclining in her 6oudoir,
with hair dishevelled, and dress disarranged,
reading the last neao noUeL. She, too, is
changed. One would have supposed ten,
rather than three years had elapsed since we
saw her last. Her form has lost its ~elastici-
ty, and she is very thin. Her face, once so
sweet in its gentle loneliness, is now-but
how shall we describe it she is not exactly
| sad, but there is a hard, callous look upon it,
as if she had resolved to care for nothing
Her once calm, bright, blue orbs, are sunken
and dull, the mouth contracted, and the
whole face expressive of bitter disappoint-
ment. Day after day she spent thus, she
took no thought of her child, save occasion
ally she was brought to amuse her for a
short time, when she grew weary of reading.
Can we wonder then that Minnie loved
"Nurse Ruth"-a soubriquet she had herself
invented, and which she ever gave her even
in after years-more than father or mother?
Surely not. Children ever love those who
care for them, if they be kind and watchful
of their comfort, and Nurse was all this and
more besides, for she taught the little girl of
her Heavenly Father, and it was a touching
sight, that little figure kneeling beside her
nurse each night, and lisping that little pray
er, which has been spoken by many, who in
after years became an honor to his nation:
'Now / lay me Down to sleep" etc.
Simple, yet breathing faith in Him who car
eth for us, in every line. Well was it Minnie
had such teacher, for Ella never prayed
and could not teach her child.
Henry Forest had squandered away tn
greater part of his wife's fortune, though sh
knew it not. She had long ago ceased to III
t crest herself with any thing which concern
cd him. But things could not go on thu
forever; and ere long came the crisis: On
ne became instantly SOBER, and crying, :
I'm ruined! | am ruined!" rushed into th
street. The calm stars looked down upo
him, as like a mailman he rushed along h
knew not, cared not whither-but this di
not calm him. A tempest ragged within NJ
thing could assuage. Morning was nigh
hand 49, L. k,-~al L.. 100 1nOoo ri =
! AlorIg the eastern horizon, the bright rays
the ascending orb of day were beginning
!, glow through the greyish tiuts, breakin
night, when he entered his house, or th'
! Which was once his house. Alas he hs
/ nome nowi He drank glass after glass
!, brandy, as fit had been water, and was SOC
ia. a stupor of intoxication. The noonds
san stood high in the heavens before
! fGwoke, and then was reused by a serva
|. who told him there was a man waiting
see him." He told him to ask him in, a.
soon came in the villain who had won, d
honestly, his all. We will draw a veil oy
that meeting. Suffice it to say, when he {
parted, he carried with him a paper viii
d gave in his possession all the property
: Henry Forest.
!, After he had gone, the wretched gamb
sunk YEARLY down upon the sofa, while
7 past, the present, doomed gloomily bef
T. him, and he cried aloud in his agony. c,
: science was busy and lashing him with 4
/; ny stripes. just six years ago-for :
! bright October morning was the anniverss
P of his marriage-day-h he vowed before the
tar to love, cherish and protect that Low
!. young bride. Had he done so? Alasi
bridal vow was broken He had neglec
ie ier and her child, and worse than all. in
. c stimation, made them beggars. He cur
70 b imself for his folly, for he did not call it S
re morse, not repentance, was his: and t
y bl It for a few short hours. Just six We
IS ag ol-and nc man in that city was more
sp,c ted than he he was fast scaling the !
der of Fame, and promised soon to stand
the topmost pinnacle and now-he is sh
n ned, condemned by all, save the lowest
al most degraded: they do not respect him,
make him q tool to serve their " base .
~ poses. The brandy he had drank was
w wing him wild, and he looked and acted
. maniac. A few moments~ince he had
or led mis- wife,-now he felt he could kill |
nd he hated her so. Unfortunately, lust Il
ar Ella entered the room, leading by the b
her child. She had been weeping and
,se eyes were red and swollen. When he
M ticed this, he few into an ungovernable "a
A and reproached her for his ruin. he told
ar she had not made his home happy, and t
nd she and her child were beggars. He lau
be ed, a strange, wild laugh, when she 81
no. pale and faint on the sofa, and going III
her-alasl for his manhood-would h
air struck her, using abusive language all
The while, had she not avoided the blow, and
lar king her child in her arms, ran from
be- room.
IS On reaching her chamber, she deliberat
om calmly took from her drawers and wardr,
her own clothes and those of her child,
Ter placed them in trunks; then sat down
ms. waited for her husband to leave the no
tbs Her heart was filled with bitter feeli
against him, and she despised him nov
Of had dared to strike her. She resolved n,
'or- to see him again. Nurse had been alb.
for several days, she regretted this, for
nds in her extremity, she appreciated the fri
It'll who had been so tender and kind to
child. She would nave liked to have
ry- her what were her intentions, but she
all not there.
iar- Poor little Minniel Pale and frightel
lea, she stood by her mother and gazed into
ms; fearless eyes, w~istfully. Obi it was sa
ana see childhood's face thus o'erclouded,
the sweet, innocent face with a look 80 old
Soes strange upon it. And the mother SCENE