Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-07-04
Five Eras in a Maiden's Life.
BY ProF. ALLEN N. SCOTT.

/ frst met Lucy B. in the village of F.,
where she was attending Female Seminary.
She was then in her sixteenth year-young,
fair and lovely. Her hair was as a black as
the ravens glossy plume, and it fell in wavy
ringlets upon her snowy neck and shoulders
Her eye seemed so bright that one would
imagine no tear of sorrow could ever stain
its heavenly blue. Lucy was happy then. Up
on inquiry concerning her studies, she show
ed me her lesson in Philosophy, also in
astronomy.
Two years elapsed, and again / saw the
maiden. Her schoolgirl days were over,
and she had left the acadeuaic shade forever.
l heard her hearty laugh as it rang through
the old ball in her fathers's mansion; saw
her when she We'd with the little sisters in
pursuing the painted butterfly, as it fitted
from flower to flower in the garden. Lucy
was happy. Smile on frail, happy one, there
is dark future before thee. Smile on now
by and by smiles must give place to tears
bitter anguishl But anticipate.
Two annual circuits more had our globe
made round her central sun, when again
saw Lucy. The days of love had comel At
her fathers house M richly furnished par
| lor, in the midst Of cherished friends before
the man Of God, she murmured with white
| hpo, . Wv 80 iaotinS as iilc itcCl anu gave
away her yielding heart to him who was the
idol of her life. She hoped for long years
of welded love, and still she was happy.
Two years more were numbered with the
past and again saw Lucy She was ;n her
own house. Wealth poured upon her its
abundant stores-servants stood around to
execute her every wish--her husband was
all that is implied in that endearing term
her beautiful boy was just learning to lisp
her name-her home was still girdled around
| with love and affection Lucy was still happy.
Long years now elapsed Ny adventu-
rous footstep had borne me far towards the
setting sun. Event had followed event-cir-
cumstance had crowded upon circumstance
until bad well nigh forgotten Lucy, the
lovely maiden of other days. Retu rning
through portion of the country but sparse
ly settled, one cloudy evening, lost my way
on the slope of mountsin and night over
took me. l wandered for hours in the wild
woods, over rugged rocks, and fallen trees,
and briars, and brambles, when weary with
travel and hunger, in despair Of reaching hu-
man habitation, l was preparing to lie down
on my overcoat and saddlebags at the root
of tree, when the glimmering of light ar.
rested my eye. Hoping to lind resting
place, kept my eye upon 1t, and was at
tracted in that direction. There was low
ly hut, solitary and alone, overhung by great
mountain oaks seeming to be the retreat
of mountain hunters and not the home Of
civilized and lovely woman. A faint light
was cleaning through the cracks. ap
preached and saw woman pale and sorrow
/ ful, sitting on wooden stool, holding in he
lap child, wrapped in ragged quilt
Twas Lucyi OH how changed. Tim
and sorrow has made her old-her beaut,
had departed-her riches had taken wings
her children, save this one, had been removes
one after another to the spirit world, an
, naught was left to her but her husband an
this poor child, that was moaning, and, i
the delirium Of fever, calling for its father
but it called in vaini The father was no
. therel He was drunk at neighboring gre
ceryl The wine cup had estranged hir
, from home and all its entertainments. He wa
a sofa very brute. He had beggared hi
fond wife, broken her heart and eovere
!. her with ragsi Lucy was dr. ankard
! wVs!
Before the sweet birds began to sing th
! advent Of, morning, / assisted her to clcs
= the eyes Of her last child, and, at an earl
4 hour, on the next day, sought out a fe,
I neighbors, and with their aid rude grav
: was prepared, and Lucy's babe was interre
f upon the brink of a little stream. Soon a
. ter, Lucy herself was placed by its side, an
4 now after life's pilgrimage is over, she resi-
: in silence, and sleeps in unbroken peace IA
|. away in a western forest; A dIunkard
: wifel Fearful words Reader, art thou
c young lady? Consider well the import
4 this term, before ysu consent to wed
0 tippler. Think of poor Lucy's fate, and ma
' a happier lot be thinel