Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-09-28
For the spirit Of the Age.
The Curse of zine.

Soft and silvery the moonlight lay upon
the freshly-heaped snow. Fair as a dream
of fairy-land, was that mountain landscape. .
High rose the snow-crowned peak, glittering
coldly in the subdued light. Adown their
rugged sides, tall pines sturdily braved the
winters severity. In a narrow defile, across
a ~well-beaten highway, lay a little streamlet,
now fast bound in the chains of the ice-king.
The merry tinkle of sleigh bells woke the
echoes, and the musical laughter of happy
youth ioated through the wild gorges of that
snow-mantled range. A gay cayalcade swept
through, and soft eyes fingered over the wild
beauty of that mountain scene. The train
passed on, and the night was waning, when
a~solitary sleigh, the last, was whirled through
by two prancing horses. At the side of the
brook, the light vehicle was overturned by
an opposing rock. The mettled steeds, I'M
checked, dashed on. Afew means and stiied
shrieks broke the stiffness, but these were
soon hushed.
The morning m The sun was casting
his first bright beams over the snug little
cottages of that secluded mountain hamlet.
His cheering rays penetrated even to the
richly furnished chambers of a dwelling more
aristocratic in proportions and finishing than
its neighbors. But rank and wealth are not
without their c~oncomitant evils. Sorrow was
spreading its gloomy pail over those luxu-
rious halls. An aged father and mother were
frantic for their missing children. Their on.
ly ones, a gallant youth, endowed with ge
MUS and intellect, anda fair young daughter
had departed the previous evening with q gay
crowd, for a neighboring village, anticipating
a pleasant return by moonlight. Their host
with mistaken hospitality, set before biz
young guests rich and foaming wine. TIL
young brother INDUCED in deep potations
and, in spite of the gentle entreaties Of th,
anxious sister, delayed his departure until
late hour. Heavy sleep, the result of tn
unusual indulgence, stepped his senses in oh
livion. The young girl, unused to driving
was unable to guide the impatient steeds, an
the sleigh struck a jutting rock, and the OF
cupants were thrown out. The arrival of tn
empty sleigh struck the parents with drea
fear. The villagers, with true mountain syn
pathy, were busily searching the highway
for the lost ones. On the bank of the rivl
let they found the object of their search. II
gentle girl, with the unselfish spirit of a trI
woman, had taken the wrappings from h
own delicate form, and wound them abor
her insensible brother, then, twining her arr
around him, calmly yielded to the inevitab
fate. The awe-struck mountaineers unwoul
!. the rigid arms of the slight girl, and foul
, the brother in asound slumber, perfectly pr
tected by the care and love of the devot
sister.
!. With the haunting memory of that avn
: awakening ever present, that man went for
the fires of remorse ever burning in his so
d The sight of the winecup would renew
o narrowing memories, and he would turn aw
n with a bitter loathing Of the poison that /
II mingled its dregs with his dearest hopes.
r Alssl the same despair-fraught 800
v glass" is putting out the altar-fres of ma
happy homes in this beautiful land of Oh
n Would that woman's tears and woman's pr
ers were antidotes for the deadly veno
~ then we would have the glorious reward
3 knowing that they are not shed and offe
% in vain ALLIE DECLARY