Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-12-26

with lovely radiance, whatever might be
their expression in after years. These are
my wishes she added; now for Annette's;
different from mine, am sure they will be,
for sou are dear, good girl.
'Well. girls said Annette, listen. My
wish is that may be permitted to carry the |
Savionr's message to distant lands, and to
publish to sinners the great and unequalieo |
love of a Redeerner aRd to labor for the ad- /
vancement of his Kingdom. And if am not |
permitted TO return again to my dear native
land'-and a tear glistened in her clear,
brown eye may die famed by the soft |
breezes of those far distant climes where the |
heather have SO long lived in ignorance and |
darkness
z just what thought said Isabel, at the
same time entwining her fair arms around
her friends neck. Il only wish we were
all more like you But must have pleas
ure, while am young at least: and then,
when get old and crusty, | mean to get We
ry good, and will benevolently patronize eve-
ry beggar | meet
Dear Isabel demonstrated Annette how
l wish could make you feel, that being
Christian never prevents one from being
happyr
so they say said Isabel but good peo-
pie always look so grave; and when | am
beside them never know whether to laugh
or cry. There's Mrs. Burns, for instance,I
once spent Sunday with and it was the
most miserable thing l ever knew dared
not stir without her raising her eyes and
giving me such a look, oh dearl but it was
dreadful. And the young girl heayed a
sigh, accompanied by significant little nod
as much as to say: It's all hypocrisy. But
| forgot she added, lightly, that it is my
turn to wish. Well, in the first place,
should like to be wealthy then l would like
to have home like palace, and an equip
age like a princess l would drive, hirt,
dance, and enjoy myself generally. And
then, perhaps, after Annette gets tired tam
ing savages, she will condescend to come and
live with poor, wicked me, instead of getting
scorched to death in far-of Africa. But
now for my wise little friend Lily. | doubt
not but she will he for going off as assistant
missionary, and leave poor Marian and me
to pursue our plans of wickedness.
No. said the little girl; L mean to stay
with mamma and papa, and L will study
hard and try to please them and you and
Marian will come often and see us, and dear
Nettie will write and tell me all about the
little heather, and | will write to her and
| give her all the news about home. And I'm
sure we'll be SO happy
Such were the fond picturings of their
young, inexperienced hearts. Were these
fond hope realized? Let US see.
Two years have passed, and it is a cold,
dreary night, near the end of December. The
rain falls in gushing torrents, and splashes
| in ceaseless monotony on the wellwashed
pavement. The old clock Of ST Giles has
/ long siI1rp toiied tire rIUur or scIf. after
another the drenched and weary pedestrians
have threaded their way through the solitary
streets; some to cheerful homes and loving
hearts, and many to scenes of sickness, sin,
and wretchedness. Nothing is there to dis.
turb the gloomy silence that pervades the
streets Of Scotia great metropolis, save now
and then the measured tread of the midnight
watchman, as he PAGES up and down, the
faint glimmcring of his lantern throwing its
spectral shadows athwart the gloom Or, per
haps some reeling victim Of debauchery
whose uncertain footstep patter and echo
drearily till they die away in silence, anC
then all again is still.
We again enter the little parlor in NJ
street: discomfort has all been shut out;
bright fire blaZes again in the ample CRATE
two easy-chairs are again wheeled up on eaci
side but there is but one occupant, whom
is much changed since last we saw her; no
only as regards looks, but also her dres
which is now a deep mourning. She seem
thoughtful, and somewhat sad, while she rt
mains gazing, with fixed stare, into tn
bright coal fire, which crackles and blazes a
if anxious to make her acquaintance bu
she heeds it not. Has she got her wish ??
We will see. Success has indeed crowne
her efforts; volume after volume went fort
into the world, and her bright, woman's ger
ius was appreciated; true to her purpos
she had travelled in other lands, sucking tn
sweet nectar from other noble intellects bl
the cravings other mind were yet far fro
being satisfied. There ever seemed to be a
impelng influence drawing her towal
home, and still she knew of nothing to i
duce her to return.
She was aware that Lily was not wei
but what OF that? she was not thought
be in danger. She had always been fragi
child, and SO nothing was apprehended.-
She wrote regularly she was no worse, 81
would soon be better; but it was not sc
and Marian returned home only in time
watch the last struggle of the little suffer
for life and hear all was over another Ian
was added to the Shepherds fold; anoth
; spotless robe clothed little angel form
f another sweet voice sang to the melodio
: echo of ten thousand golden harps. She b
) seen the King in his beauty Lily was
heaven.
, Annette, true to her purpose, was laborir
8 as the wife of missionary on the far dista
shores of Africa, when the intelligence OF t
: death of her little friend and schoolma
: reached her. And though she grieved
= the loss she and her friend had sustained, S
nevertheless rejoiced that so bright tes
: mony from the death bed of so young dis
s pie of that Master whom she also serst
should be witnessed by them. But, was
c so with Marian? What could ali the worl,
e vain aduiation do for her now? Nothing.
: Fame was to her now but an empty nam
It nothing short of tinkling cymbaL' L
sweet music had gone, and left naught /
}. harsh discord; resigned aid submissive, 81
+ too, laid her laurels at the Sasiour's feet, a
It resolved to live, not for fame, Rot for /
It plause, bat to fulfill woman's nobler II
sion.
e But how was it all this time with the ]
'e pulsive little beauty, Isabel? About i
le before she had married a young officer
"a rank, with gay, fashionable exterior VIII
I'd hid many more shining qualities, that neet
y but decision OF character to bring them
Mt light. Having spent some time in CT
= magniticence in Edinburgh, they left for
Ill still greater gayeties Of Paris
5; Her friends had not heard from her
ne some time; and as Marian looked at the
" occupied chair, she could not suppress 81
nd as she thought of the gay and thought
ill girl who sat there on that happy, memora
nd night Tn the ,nidSt of ha~ ravaria haua