Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-05-04
WRITTEN FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
sUNBEAMs AND SHADOWS:
Oh
Temperance Versus Intemperance.
by ANNIE GEORGE.
CHAPTER ].


THE music, and the bang let, and the wine,
The garlsnds, the rose-odors, and the flowers,
Tho sparkling eyes. and the flashing ornaments !"
ELLA, Ella, where are your cried a gay,
sweet voice, and a light, quick footstep SCUM
ded on the stairway. Oh here you are, just
where / might have expected to find you;
and dreaming too, as usual. All, well, my
lady.bird, it does well enough now, but after
tomorrow, | guess you will have to don a
little dignity, and on ''household cares in
tent" dispense with these delicious reveries.
Pshawl are you asleep Ella You look as
if you.were, Tn sure"
mo indeed, Allie, l am not asleep, and if
felt disposed to woo the drowsy god, Pm sure
you would not allow it with that tongue, that
''unruly member" Of yours. But how you
disturbed mel Let ms tell you what | was
thinking ofl'-
Indeed you shall not, Ella Grant il you
have nothing to do but sit here and rear fairy
castles, | have. | am in a thousand h%urries,
ifHSS St e a s6 J 70 sss t i there is any commission
and say, don't you envy me my freedom ? |
an really sorry for you, Ella. For my part I
never will marry any man. Ugh the selfish
creaturel"
why, Allie. how you taikl am very
happy, am sure; and yet expect to marry
Henry Forest tomorrow. | know / will be
happy with him. y said the young girl, blush
ing. "But 1 know you do not mean what
you say, you are J~esting.''
A change came DER the merry face of Allie
as she replied, "You know | love you, Ella.
as a sister. And am very glad to see you SO
happy. know | am a wild romp of a girl,
Ella, but If you will let me, ] want to give
you a little advice. When you are married.
you will take a responsibility upon you, and
you know you have never had a care. Do
not expect all sunshine, for be sure clouds
will sometimes obscure the horizon of your
happiness. Remember the happiness of a
fellow-mortal depends on you. Be cheerful,
and kind, ever; and cease this eternal novel
reading and dreaming. Won't you? You
do not know how it will injure you, if you
continue ii. Enter steadily upon life's stu
dies, and you may be sure flowers will spring
up in your pathway to cheer you onward
You look startled, Ella, and we'll you may be.
DO not remember of having made such a
long, serious speech before in my life. But
think Of what 7 have said. Do not stop to
wonder what has come DER your wild friend.
And now, good-bye-Au revoiri ~ and away
she tnpped, her usually merry face, sad and
serious, for she was not quite sure her friend
was TO be entirely happy.
The morrow dawned, a bright, beautiful
autumnal morning and with it came Allie
Grey to pass 1t with her friend-the last,
she declared, they were to enjoy uninterrup-
tedly. Allie was q piquant, arch, merry, anC
beautiful brunette; the very soul Of mirth
but with strong, good principles, and a warm
loving heart. She was the daughter of
wealthy merchant Of F.. Her mothe
was gone from her, and dwelt in the mansion
God prepared for her. A brother and her
: self were the only children, and she was tn,
idol Of her kind indulgent father. Her cheer
full sunny temper shed sunshine in her home
and no greater praise could we bestow upol
her than this.
Very different was her chosen friend, sweet
gentle Rlla Grant. She was q blonde, wit
dreamy blue eyes, and one could read he
character there. She was a dreamer. He
time was spent principally in rearing thos
fairy castles which are ever doomed to fal
Pure, loving, unsuspecting, every feature
her face betrayed her innocent, child .lik
disposition. But alas she was an orphan
Deprived in early childhood of her parent
she was taken by her guardian, q good, kin
hearted man, to his own home, There, h
wife, who was much like himself in dispos
ton, having no children Of her own, petite
and INDUCED the beautiful little girl. 81
felt too much could not be done for one
early deprived OF hef BEST fr1enuS. VINE
Ella was thirteen years Of age, she WIS Sc
to a fashionable boarding school, and 'tw
there she learned to pore over novels ard low
sick stories, till they became q necessary fo
to her imagination. ''Ohi the sickly pc
onous polish Of the popular boarding school
The time which should have been passed
study, was consumed in this manner. AS S
was gentle and amiable, her teachers we
much attached to her; and we must confe
it-being heiress to great wealth, they ov,
looked many badly recited lessons, and ne
lect Of duty on that account Alas ala
why do so few realize the responsibility, VIII
young innocent girls are placed with them
be educatedi Why do they think so lit
of the moral training Of their pupilsl l
not mean to i~nsinuate that the principal
Che school which Ella attended, knew Of tn,
things. She would have been excessive
shocked, If any one had informed her Il
many a move was handed from scholar
scholar In her school. 1t was her object
make her pupils graceful, fashionable, acco
plished and refined. The one who enterei
room with the most grace, who swept |
fingers over the keys Of the piano, or strir
Of the harp, with the greatest ease, was