Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-12-07
SPIRIT OF THE AGE
For the Spirit Of the Age.
ANNIE'S DEATH
A TRUE "REMINISCENCES OF WESTERN
CAROLINA.

ANNIE'S DEATH.
A TRUE "REMINISCENCES OF WESTERN
CAROLINA.
| The earth was covered with a white robe.
Summer had departed, the grass had with
cred and the frosts of autumn had nipped the
flowers. But autumn toe, was gone. The
golden grain was gathcded to The garner
Chill winter, with his cold breath, had left
the earth bleak, sad and desolate. And now
as the wind f~uriously blew outside, sending
his unwelcome visits through the unstopped
walls of the poor mans hut, within a house
of better dimensions and fairer proportions
there were melancholy faces and mournful
watches. There Wds an unbidden guest IN
the midst. He was unwelcome, but not one
of the strong arms or stout hearts of the in
mates of that dwelling could prevent his en-
trance. The ponderous lock, the triple bar
Of steel, nor yet the wall of stone can keep
| this Wis tant out. HE spares not the high
nor the humble for the kings of the earth
fall before him."
:. Annie was the picture of health. Cheerful
and happy, she ~joyously moved among her
classmates, her clear laugh often ringing
above the beisterous glee of her companions.
Thus with her passed the autumn and the
winter, until the holidays. Bro. A, the
! accomplished Principal of B. School, kind
{ ly released the classes from duty until after
J New Years Day. These coveted days were
. fatal to Annie.
In the pursuit Of her innocent pleasures,
!. Annie took cold, which fastened upon her the
fangs of a dreadful disease; and there, distant
: from mother and father, she lay dying
Speak not too loudly step lightly! Annie,
dear Annie, is dyingl What business has
death there? Death
"An we know, or dream or fear,
d Of agony art thine"
se And why art thou here? Are you willing
lr that Annie shall die? She was young, beau
er tiful and good. Il a0hite stone had been gscea
. her, and on the stone a Reeo name WTitten,
aohich no one kneto sare she that receiced 1T;
and were your blind eyes open you could see
"Tbe kind angels at the gate
Inviting her to come"
at And surely you would not detain her, but
on with a cheerful heart bid her eas
ho "Haste thee from this fearful land,
ICE Where flowers SO quickly fade"
nix
&c Yet in that house Of death there was deep
sorrow, not for the dead, but for the living.
,rr Well they knew how heavily the blow would
GRO fall upon the hearts of the loved ones at home.
q. Annie died. The long, weary watch-night
ras at last gave way to the morning, and with it
If came her father; but alasi Annie was cold!
Who may picture a fathers grief Ger the
,cp form Of his dead child? They only may at
: tempt it who have lost a bright one from the
c;a- family circle. Yet his was no common grief
not Never had Annie's voice fallen like music on
till his ear; nor had she heard his. Nature ha6
never opened to him her rich treasures il
hearing and speaking. The mournful sign
the of the stricken mute alone conveyed to thos
has around his deep anguish. And now, as tn
mo bowed form and silver locks Of the mourne
YOU were bent over his dead, the sun arose from
1our his cold couch in the east and gladdened tn
wife earth with his beams. Twas reviving t
ever look out upon the scene. The wind ha
,est Gained, and the sun with his cheering beam
, in was penetrating every corner of the earth
nee. and as he poured his blessed rays upon til
worlds white carpet of snow, bursting, as
were, into a thousand scintilations of glor,
; can one present, touched by the scene, sang
pen "Sweet morning, bright morning,
t the And well all shout together
ness, In that morning."
wrote
Twas enough. The scene, the song, wrong
all. each its work. Some wept and some shol
sniff. cd, and thus with DEATH robbed of its star
and the GRAVE shorn-ofits-naat@sAA-A~
rated mcanno 80 m....u
Deiic With blessings on her head"
dis
!, and Ashevillc, Nov. 1853. WILLIE.