Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-03-09
For the Spirit of the Age.
The Tree of Life.-BY EsrELLE.

AAC AAVC VI "a
stood beneath a beautiful Tree! It's long,
green boughs swept down to the very ground,
and a lovely wild vine had ran over it, and
hung it with clusters Of purple flowers, which
shed their sweet fragrance on the air around.
At its foot glided a clear, ripping stream, on
whose banks grew roses that dropped over
and touched the bright waters. Twas acloud-
less spring morn. We had come to bid adieu
TO that clear spot-my fair young brother
and /. We loved that Tree, for oft in child
hood We had gathered flowers there and play
ed meath It's friendly shade. Thither VIC
had Oft repaired to tell each other our child
ish joySapd sorrows, or TO run over lessons
in It's cool, balmy atmosphere. How quick
ly the happy hours then sped away in that
quiet, lovely spot-the green leaves keeping
time to the murmuring Of the soft Winds
In the ardor Of youth now and, rife with hope,
we told each other of the bright, sunny
dreams Of the future-life, like a broad and
beautiful sea, lay before US, calm and smiling
In the radiant sunlight Of morn. We were
impatient to try our banks on its smooth,
shining wSters-the sky was blue above US
n We thought not Of clouds or storms to
darken It's surface. There was the little log
school-h0use on the hill. side, and the merry
voices Of children at play, fell on our ears.
With sorrow we babe farewell to each famil-
lar spot and with many a lingering glance be-
hind We left the scenes Of childhood's happy
hours
Years passed away | | stood again beneath
that Tree, but alonei My fair young broth
or slept in death. His voice was hushed and
the light Of his beaming eye had gone out
Ills fraii but lovely park went down meath
the rising pillows. The Tree was still green
- s.-. - -
ping its foundation, for the topmost limbs
were dead and ~leafless, its glory was passing
away The vine was half torn away, and
only a few pale blossoms still chung there I;
the rest were laying on the ground withered
aud blackened by the frosts of autumn. l
gaZcd on il and thought il a fit en-
blcm Of my life. The beautiful blossoms
Of hope and affection that filled my heart
when | stood there before, how they had
fallen one by one and faded! The school
house still stood on the hillside, but the
merry vcices were silent the doors and shut
tiers had broken from their fastenings andhung
cracking in its shrill blasts on its threshold
Lays book with half Of its pages torn out all
seemed To point to my life. There was no
roses on the stream-its gushing waters were
choked ia some places by gathering leaves
t | turned sadly away from the changed scene
my feelings, how different when | first left it
The skies were still blue, but | knew cloud,
lurked there. Life was still before me, it
seas SAILING and serene, but | knew they
were ehangeful, and beneath its waves wer
whihpooiS.
The winds Of winter howled around, an,
its snowy mantle lay 90 the ground glisten
Jog in pure starlight, for it was night, and
had come again, my footsteps f~altering wit
age, TO take a last farewell of my loved Tre'
But slasl it met not my wishful eyes. 1t ha
fallen in all its Aourishing beauty Lynn
on the ground was a decayed trunk, all TIL
now remained! Ny heart was sad to see
thus, Cor | had loved it. The flowers had q
persisted | turned to the stream, no spar
ling waters ran there, it was dry the schot
house, alas, It too had fallen, and now lay
Pie OF ruins. A bitter feeling Of d~esolati,
filled my soul. Passing away, was engrav
on oil. | was alone; the scenes of you
were fading from my view, and there we
now no bright dreams Of the future, they t
had passed away. All all was gone. !
heart was filed with giieE. AS | gave 0
last glance at the fallen Tree, a lovely obj
caught my eye, a beautiful flower peepi
out from the snow wreaths that encircled [
decaying branches. Twas so lovely, its v
vet leaves pointing toward the skies, | b
forgot my sorrow, and gentle peace filled
soul. Twas the blossom Of HOPE, of a
rious Immortality beyond the grave!