Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-09-21
Original 4aqtrs,
1or the opirlt OF tne az
The Journey Of a Day.
BY T. G. w-bL.

One Of those days Of merriment that
gives so much pleasantly to the young man
Just released from bis Hteens," had joyous
ly passed away, leaving naught of gloom on
the mind, when wandered some distance
from the house, and took seat on a grassy
mound in beautiful meadow, surrounded
with the many flowers of lovely May. 1t
was calm, clear night the ''silver queen"
in proud triumph was riding high in
sky. Nothing disturbed the still
ness, save the ripping Of the small brook
that merrily glided BY. Even the whip
porwill had ceased his shrill whistle; and
the owl--the ill-omened bird of night
frightened at the echo of his first hoot, va
Gated his seat upon the time-stricken bough
Of the oak, and retreated to some old wall
or gloomy cleft Of the mountain.
Nothing disturbed the serenity of my
mind-a silken veil waved between pres
ent happiness and the sadness Of more
youthful days. | was day dreaming
weaving on the woft of imagination the
beautiful frOst-work, seeming SO real to the
youthful mind. Some time had thus i'm
perceptibIy passed away, when I was in
sensibly soOthed into gentle sleep. Isoon
opened my eyes in the land of dreams, and
found myself under the counsel of fond pa
rents, rapidly pursuing my journey to a
western city. was on business of vast
Importance, the nature of which did not
precisely know, but expected to learn by
the way, and to be fully Informed at the
end. The journey required but a day, yet
all the vigor Of youth to perform it. !
knew q failure would involve something
more than life, and was 5riskly travelling
onward. whom was accoated by very
handsome parsonage, dressed in full fash
ion of the times, and having the bearing of
''first class gentleman" He had been an
acquaintance Of many of my relations for
a great while, and for this reason claimed
mine. He was standing by the way where
there were few small impediments and
the way appeared to me to be a long lane
stretching itself out of sight in the direction
| was going. This man urged me "to de-
lay till to, morrow" and to lodge with him
night, his house being in that vicinity
Hooked up to see il the sun had passed the
meridian but being in a strange part oi
the country l could not tell. l knew il
would require all the light of day with
brisk travelling TO enable me to reach the
city at night fall. This was the moment
of decision; and feeling much anxiety
turned long look to the west, and saw
hills rising high, and towering peaks o.
rugged mountains loeming Ger the way
NJ. IL. l. cnaO,aJ 70 roo1 M q
thoughts, and said, "some other day may
Go rs Welcome spend while with me
in the bower Of pleasure this wa:
the name of his habitaticn. felt much
soheitude, and desired to 90 my way, fol
felt the Importance Of my journey /; but
being OVerpowered by persuasion, yielded
and with trembling steps turned back-fo
] had already passed the habitation Of m.
impogtunate companion.
We were soon at his door :, and / wa
surprised that / had passed without seein,
his dwelling. The outside appearance wa
not very inviting-nothing but com
mon dwelling Of complicated FORM
With little trepidation | entered its poi
tals-every one feels such sensations whe
leaving the path Of duty. To my utter a.
constituent all within had the appearanc
Of n magnificent palace. The walls wel
hung with the finest tapestry the hot
wassppead with the eostliest carpeting; an
the fnSnitnreof the most splendid workma
ship-alL beyond anything the imaginatic
had ever ventnred upon.. | was formal
introduGed.to the occupiers- of this magni
cent mansion---co consisting of lady and b
three daughters. They too were as br
liantly attired as their habitatiCn ). all we
dressed in, silken robes Of the finest textul
but somewhat differently arranged. SUI
charming creatures had never seen |
fore; and one whose name was Pleasu
claimed all my attention. Pleasure n
toned me tc'a seat upon a. platform abe
two feet higher than. the AoeI,. and. int
centre OF the roon. It was covered wi
the finest velvet carpetiug, and the 81
was cushioned and made soft as, the do,
of the cygnet.. "Eo that seat" said 81
"there we always. place our most respec
bic visiters-youngm above the comm
vices so prevalent in this age Of the worl
l was seated ). spell Of euohantm,
came over NC. Here were the most be-
tiful persons Of earth. Such smiles SO
witcbing! Twas enjoying the golden T
ments lost in Eden. This was the pal
of the goddess of Pleasure, and her IN
favored votary-
My journey was forgOtten-its imp
tance and all. gave not one thought
former fricnGs-all were eclipsed by
dazzling splenders around me.