Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-03-14
0riginaI 4aperys...
wm.TKs roH THE SPIRIT or ruE Asr.
STELL A NJ AS0N:
TRUTH AND FAIsEHooD.
BY ANNIE GEORGE


.sMv lovely Aaron, wherefore looksst mon sad
When everything doth make gleefnl boast s.
sHAksfxAHz.
"Beautifull Oueenlyr, burst si,n,,ltane-
ousiy from the lis Of the cre ded assembly.
which had collected to listen to the ESSAYS
Of the voung ladies Of Madame Lafaranee's
well known Seminary, as peerless Stella Ma.
son came forward TO read her Valedictory adj
dress. She was indeed very beautiful. Her
form rather above the medium height was
rounded and graceful. possessing the elasti. i.
ty Of girlhood. Her eyes Of midnight hue
now flashing with pride, softened With mel.
apcholy or sparkling with mirth. were truly
the mirrors Of her soul Her hair of raven
hue was glossy and abundant. and twined in
massive hraids around her noble head, be-
came we'll her aueenly style of beauty. Com.
pIexion clear. aud cheeks Of roses: mouth
exquisiiely lovely, with the slightest curl Of
the upper LID. showing the native pride
mingled with sweetness Of her slisposition.-
And now, dear reader, You have her portrait
only we can but fai ltly portray our he
rhine, for twas the soul and intellect light.
ing up her fine face, which gave Il its chief
charm: and above all beamed a. on angel
faces the holy liaht of Truth from the eve.
and rested upon the snowy brow of the bril-
liant and beautiful girl.
With tituid glance at the sea Of faces
turned towards her, Stella commenced in
sweet, clear tones her Essay As she pro.
ceeded, 1t seemed so still. so quiet. as If that
listening throng held their very breath to
listen. No sound was heard, save a sob now
and then from some school girl Every eye
was moistened. and learned men gazed with
astonishment on one so young, so lovely, and
yet so gifted. All wept IN tribute to her elo-
qnence The reading is finished. and still
for = few moments they sit as il entranced-
thin Madame LaGrange speaks, Miss Ma
ssn viii come forward to receive the prize"
Blushing and smiling. Stella advances. and
receives the costly, yet tiny watch and chain
then bending gracefully, laurel wreath is
placed upon her ofaias. AS she returns 10
her seat, sne meets the gaze OF a pair oi
brown orbs, which seem strangely familiar,
though she y sure OF never having seen their
owner before. The look Of intense admiIa-
ton thrills her very soul ID she blushes
deeply as she turns away.
Allow rne 70 congratuate You. Miss Ma
son, on yonr glorious triumph" laughed,
rather than spoke, sweet Nellie Grey-the
room mate OF Stella--ss she bounded in their
room alter the exercises No doubt, desrie
you oyerlookesl the brown eyes of my cousin
Hubert, who Gid nothing but gaze at you,
when |. his adorable cousin'-as he oncs
called me-was there just before him, and
hadn't seen those same orbs for more thar
three years. really shall court the sgre-n
eyed monster, i-but Stella darling whal
are these te rs forf How can you weep af
ter what has PASSED to-day ? and then your
eyes win be irhamed too, and it is nearl,
time to diess for the bali Dearest Stella
are you really crying? tell me, what is thu
matter Y and the merry, but very affection
ate girl threw her aims around her.
"Ahi Nellie, how can you ask me, wher
you know this is the last night that viii b,
here-the only place where happiness rest,
for met You know my relatives do not Low.
me- am poor, and nv proud aunt anf
cousin despise me for it. NV uncle did seer
to love me once, and has never been unkind
but he is no niger aff.ctionate towards me
and am dependant on him. OH Nellie
you with your gentle loving heart canno
dream how this feeling, this thought, crush
es, agonizes me. l would rather be slave
to work for my daily bread. to do ANYTHING
right and honorable, than to feel myself ,
creature Of his bounty-wh6 does not low
me-and whose family look down upon. an,
coniemn me. fcannot bear it-aersr ~ sal,
she, starting fiom her seat. and pacing rest
lessly the hoor. s.No, Nellie, I will teach
do something 10 earn my livelihood. I can.
not, soiH not live o life of dependence. m,
presence scorned, my life embittered by m,
proud relatives. Ali my darling iittl,
friend y said she, her eyes softening with Al
fection, as she seated herself by Neiiie's side
IL have loyed you 90 much. and Madame "a
Grange, who has ever been SO kind 10 mt
and ali the dear girls-that YOU cannot wor
der / shrink from parting with YOU to .
where no 1--we, no welcome awaits me. Ho,
can part from your Even now, Uncle
here He spoke in praise OF NV Essay. an
seemed even XII ID; but too well. / know
when ut home again, it viii be as yore. II