Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-01-12
For the Spirit of the Age.
Worship of the Woods.

- ~ AAON1 vi
Lily of the Dell.
The moss too, and the forest, grass,
All, all, were sere and dead,
And proud old oaks their leaves bad strewr
Thick DER their silent bed.
Beneath my tread the crispen leaves
Reminded me that all,
The proud as well as lowly,
In winter life must fall.
A sad yet soothing quietude
Now DER my being stole,
As bowed my heart in wondering
At natures sage control.
Once more my eyes [ cast around,
| bent my ~listning ear,
But silence reigncd, no worshippers
OF Natures God, none there.
In vain looked for singing bird,
lie too was silent now,
And not a note of praise was heard
From oat the leafess boughs.
All, all, were sleeping with the dead,
No bird, no opening bloom,
10 hail the sabbath morn, were there,
win carol Or perfume.
In spirit, | was standing now
Beside the sacred Scheme,
Where %worshipped all the dear ones,
That round my heart entwined.
Methought the peeling organs tones
Upon my senses broke,
And now to deep devotion's power,
My distant bosom woke.
The voices of my dear ones
In sweetest music rose,
Above the deep-toned organs swell,
And softer than its close.
And now, in lonely reverence,
The TIE Deum is sung,
And now the solemn litany
Ascends from every tongue.
Now, low before the footstool of
Gods Altar sinners fall,
- And. IN the SENS Jafl5Iape4QyleggfVVIb Ipessme
AS now in accents mild.
lie tells how Jesus died, and we
To God were ~reconciled.
And now his hand is raised on high.
And sinners sternly called,
10 Shun the downward road, lest sin
Their feeble souls enthralPd.
lie paints in glowing eloquence
The joys at Gods right hand,
reserved for those who love him here.
And bow at His command.
In joyous hallelujahs now,
| hear their voices swell,
With rapture my glad spirit joins
In praise | love so well.
Yes, from those peaceful woods ascends
My alteration too,
And in mid-air the seraph Joins
Who with the incense flew.
Iho distant, still my prayers and praise
Are offered at the throne,
Along with ~thronging prisons
mat from His courts had flown.
And here too he is worshipped,
Calm natures voice is heard,
In falling leaves, and waving boughs,
And every blade that stirred.
A soft repose my spirit fills,
AS gently moves the air,
And comes a genial warmth DER all
From sunbeams bright and clear.
The spirit of devotion now,
The harp of Nature takes.
M gentle winds her fingers are,
They move, and music wakes.
The signing grass the rustliug leaves,
The green young pines that wave
In soft and soothing murmuring,
Like ocean when it laves.
The pebbly shore, where coaxingly
The gently sloping sand
Invites the restless pillows to
Repose upon the strand.
And now amid the towering pines.
The swelling strains ascend.
And now, the lofty foliaged boughs
With mighty music bend:
And now as if to hearken
What natures voice would say
The spirit ceased to sweep the chords.
And echo died away.
And now anon the sturdy oaks,
lnnumerable and grand,
As if in reverence of Him
VINO formed them with His hand.
A ne host of silent worshippers,
Their towering forms appeared.
AS in the brightning sunbeams
Uncovered head they reared.
"A solemn awe my spirit filled.
rose with them to praise,
AS music swept the chords again.
An anthem more to raise.
And now a mighty melody,
Throughout the forest rose.
And now the spirit touched the STRINGS
10 softer, sweet repose.
The signing grass, the falling leaves,
The s%appling's graceful wave,
The lofty swelling pines, once more
A solemn stanza gave.
AS home bent my quiet steps.
My heart was swelling high,
With rapturous emotion caught
From natures minstrelsy.
AccIDENTS.-Two Railroad accidents hav
ecently happened on the Railroad leading /