Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-04-13

tNAAh u lAC OdSNlC-l4hG noAAiOs a. JAN
aid she would go, and her first debut was =
failure. 1t is true there were few, a very
ew, who became Interested in the peculiar
girl, and finally loved her for herself 1t was
/ small band, yet made up of honest hearts
md true" and Bettaraai fully appreciated
them but on the whole her debut was a al
failure.
She sustained the character she had as /,
sumed about three years at the expiration
of that time, just at the beginning of the most ly
fashionable season, society was startled into dis
something IKE It's senses oy a most stuhhins WI
report. Yes, Report Busy Report said, Z.
that the far off cousin of the elegant and WI
wealthy Mrs. Howton, had very suddenly be IS
come RIGHT All uncle, who had lived in the III
gold-seiled South, and who, while living, had -
literally rolled in riches, bad made his will IN
favor Of the child of his younger sister, leav- :"
ing her mistress of an immense and unen- 10
numbered estate Il
Bettarani Beoni assumed the garb Of mouT-
ming and retired to her home. She devoted
herself to study, employed the best masters c
determined to be as accomplished IN the arts a
and sciences, and rehned ana elegant IN oah c
ner as possible :
At the expiration Of two years, she again
entered society-went forth into the world as
the heiress of a princely fortune. She visited
all the principal cities of the United States
had visited them before, but created no SEN
sation now, her arrival was duly announced
in the papers, her appearance ID the pu6hc
places noted, her dress commented on, her
taste admired. Who would have known her!
How changed how very completely changed
She was An extravagantly dressed woman,
deeply yersed in the arts and receptions OF
that hollow thing called the best Cd society,
was what she now appeared to be. She drew
throngs Of friends around her, hosts CT lovers
() knelt at her shrine, and knelt in vain
She soon became weary Of dissipation, OF &C
ting. Being disguised with the FIRST, she for
sock it; tired Of the last and feeling 1t repug-
nant to her nature, she threw 1t oil. She
made the tour of Europe, remained "oer the
great waters three years and then returned
and settled down in her old castle like home;
and there she may be found to-day, tending
her flowers, walking in the shade Of her tell
trees. drawing sweet sounds from her harp
or what is better still, visiting the sick, sooth-
ing the distressed, relieving the needy or IN
structing the ignorant.
She entertains the noble few, who had
loved her for herself, magnificently, at hel
home, and she visits them at their dwellings,
Beyond these, she has no visitors. occasion
ally a stranger who knows nothing Of The
circumstances, asks why a young and beau
tiful being buries herself, as it were, from
III Il LAllo liz ~
ers who know as little about it themselves
that ''she is a lady of strange notions and pc
clliar ways, of a cold, proud heart, and
naughty spirit !" and they pass on, gaze a
her beautiful face, think of her great posses
sions, and wanderingly pass on. The worl
has no attractions for her. 'To what SQUIRE
does she go for pleasure? 1t is natural fo
all to seek happiness from some source
methinks | hear some one ask. Yes, dea
reader, it is natural, quite natural. L can tie
YOU in a few words where Bettarani seek
and finds hers. Care you sure that you a
WAYS fnd yours where you seek it?) ST
carried her painting, thirsting heart to Hi
, from whose side a healing flood" is ever foN
: ing. She has given her heart to God, her life
devoted to Him; her wealth is freely bestoN
5 ed wherever there is the fainteSt hope that
) will aid in advancing His cause. She is
Z changed woman. She has become a since
!, christian, and because she stands aloof fro
u the fashionable world, it terms her a col
: proud woman.
/ Again, methinks hear a4od some 3roro one so: ask,
= Why not go forth and try to have an inf
\ ence for good in what is called fashionab
\ society? Alas! she does not feel equal TO
- She has been forth into the world, seen
\ knows it, and feels that a mightier one tn;
- she must spread an influence oyer it. 81
is human, and what is human with human
y She prays for the worldly minded and Il
- hardened the work she feels that lie will
g in His own good time.
- But we will return. We were saying tn
e the world calls Bettarani Beoni a cold, prou
naughty woman. But go to the novels
the poor and ask them if she is proud? {
to the sick, the suffering and the needy, al
! ask them if she is cold? Go to those who
a garments of soul have been washed white
the stream of Salvation, and ask them if S
= was naughty when she came to them in the
= fifth and degradation and led them to a blee
ing and merciful Saviour? Ask the pu
h ones of the earth, and the angels of the skit
- if it is strange that she should turn awt
i with a pale sad face, from the scenes of worl
ly pleasure, vice and dissipation.
T Though Bettarani is changed in mind, s
still retains many of her old habits. She
still an ardent adnirer of Nature; the flo
ers are still her loved and petted comps
Of ions but it is the voice of her Lord that ~
whispers to her spirit, "Be ye meek and 10
ly, patient and long-sufering." Yet t
+. flowers remind her of his great and infnt
wisdom from them her mind rises adorir
~ ly, up to Him. She is now able to gaze l
. weariedly upon a moonlight scene and sta
,Tr calm and selfpOssessed aneid the furio
storm, for in all things she beholds Him, a
~ hence to her all things are fair. She wal
If in the beauty Of holiness She is in t
ed highway Of true wisdom, AID she finds ii
nd "l1ef ways are ways OF pIeasahtRess ana
Oh her paths are peace"
And thus she is acting her part in
Drama Of life. ARiECKAESkA.
ire
ANCIENT CorS.-We were shown vest