Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-05-25

iTOIm thoughts unoro r.
! our common ~jestines are ar
anu II any painter drew bar
a. would paint her unaware
"nh a halo round her hair
BROWNING
merry shout proclaims that !.
III; and tomorrow is a boJI;dou nooI !
traas eather around that fair vo,Dc =.
consnh 9:arceiy older than themselves snd =,
Tot ne is her on some important snb;eot :
ce'u US listen: Ali they are to bavo 1uSJect.-
morrow will be the first of Ne leS'Vai,
paslty Minnie Forrest is to wear hay hay, ana
Of mieiu the sceptre over the most ue Uauwh
Mnsuoects. How eager is the axnrau "inlng
AZ young, bright faces. as thew pteaJ OF
is NON Ose noble trees talking together ri
60" Setteo; The children are 70 noo
she is caIia n1ansJ cottage,-for by that name
land ss,e ey all, both q cz EAsp4 them e the
spot selected for the Picnic. So they turn
their faces homeward, and, as usual, Willie
Harley,-the son of the rich and aristocratic
old Squire, who lives in that elegant brick
mansion surrounded by trees, flowers, and
everything in Nature and in Ar. to make it
beautiful, - carries Minnie's satchel, and walks
by her side. Many envious glances are cast
upon him by the other boys, but as Minnie
seemed ever pleased to have his company,
they were compelled to submit. Habit be-
comes second nature, so it was natural to see
those two, the lovely girl in her simple straw
hat and golden curls; and the tall, manly
youth, who was ever so kind, frank and gen.
erous, together-whether coming from, or 60
ing to their school.
The morrow dawned, as lovely a 'May
day" as ever was seen. Nature just expand
ing into new life, every zephyr waited fra
/ ur0nNn aUaru hroo1n wo,rrD0,1~al r~ol01y
The gorgeous petals of flowers and varied
scenery Of landscape, spread before the eye a
loneliness and beauty enchanting to a lover
Of Nature.
The village was all astir at an early hour,
for at seven o'clock the scholars were to meet
at the school-house, so as TO reach the grove
before the sun was too high to be pleasant.
None were "up and doing" earlier than our
friends at the cottage. Breakfast was served
and despatched with such velocity as would
have shocked some disciple of Esculapius,
had he been present and they were soon at
their several tasks.
Good Aunt Hannah was very busy loading
a large basket with many tempting articles
of food; for she was an adept in the art of
preparing for Pic-Nics, so frequent were they
in the Village. Dishes, plates, cups, etc. etc,
were safely slowed away: and her task was
done, and ready for the starting.
Ella is busy arranging her daughter, Miss
Minnie, and she felt repaid, aye, more thar
repaid, when the last touch was given to hel
toilette, and she gazed with maternal pride
and affection upon her. Then she led the
blushing child to her aunt. "Aunt Hannah
will / do?" said Minnie.
"DO! my precious darling, you are thu
sweetest and ~loveliest flower that ever bloom
ed on Garth" was the reply.
Twas but seldom the old lady spoke word
such as these, but they came involuntarily
She was so superlatively beautiful that Aun
Hannah was thrown off her guard. Dresse,
in q snowy muslin, with no ornament say
flowers and her own pure loneliness, she wa
by far more captivating than the city belle
with diamonds glittering on her person. w
have before described our little Minnie, an
suffice it now to say. that wreath of whit
blossoms which encircled her brow, mad
her appear as beautiful as an angel.
The children assembled at the cottage t
accompany their Queen to the school house
and meier did titled lady have a nobler G
more4ovely train than had Minnie this morr
ing. Their bright, young faces, so full
love and innocence, their handsome dresse
with Natures jewels for ornaments, forme
o beauty seldom witnessed.
And now the procession is formed. Mir
ME is placed at the head, while Willie Harle
walks by her side, and carries her bouque
He is be~witched, fascinated. He nevs
dreamt of anything half so beautiful as ST
appeared on this glorious May morning.
The wagons were waiting, and many of til
villagers collected there, when they reache
the school-house. Now they are in the wa
ons, and away they go, singing, talking ar
a1Obin. n q thar r.Io That IcSnIk c,~~
morn makes their hearts light and joyous.
They reached the grove where the comp
ny were assembled. Twas a charming spt
"Whose loftie trees, yclad with sommer's PRIDE,
Did spread SO broad, that heavens light did hit
Not perceable with power ofany starr"
There dwelt many a feathered songst,
and there ran a clear and laughing broo
: forming many a miniature waterfall, as
: swept onward, onward to its mother. t
: great, broad, blue ocean. There is the thro
: all arranged by. kind and willing hands, a
\ ere long our sweet Minnie is crowned t
Z "Queen of May" She bore her honors me
u estly, blushingly, and won the hearts of
. who beheld her.
y That was a day long remembered by
!. present, for whether t~reading the may dan
= joining in some merry game, or seated
some messy rock, talking gaily; it was
J sunshine, all pleasure.
What a golden period is childhood! HI
= pleasant it is to look back and picture
memory's m~ellowing glass" our childhoo
y joys, our sports, our friends who then m
~ gled in all our pleasures. Even the lii
~ sorrows, so called, -yet at the time they Sc
- real troubles leave with them a charm
~ We ever refer to our infant days as the s.
y, ny period of life. All hearts in later yea
long for that unsophisticated innocence VIII
" causes children to love and trust. Ri
years bring with them so much of sorr,
LLs such a heavy burden of distrust.
That lovely day has gone, past-but
IL remembrance of its joys left a sunshine
hind no after sorrows could entirely obi
% rate.
81 Then more months have become numbe
- with the past, and vacation has arrived.
rs pale, young school-mistress has gone to
c.; widowed mother in the city, and the {
,oa dren are rejoicing in their freedom.
For some time Ella had been regul
in corresponding with her friends. When
was in so much distress, she had cease
ter answer Allies letters, bat when be
on thoughts and purer feelings arose in her
on. som, she had written ana told her all,
It's then her resignation.
bat And now she received a letter from
ned from which we will extract the following
ana "You do not know, dearest friend,
her much | wish to see you. 1t has been so
lIV nv uaarc cfpan eve - 4Hoxy on