Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-11-21
lamar.
A STORY oE THE GoIpsS AeE.

f those happy groups of families in which in
were divided in the first ages after I,
he deluge before the splendours, and cru- m
tiles of a more advanced civilization. ez
Tn valley of roses glowed like a paradise. CO
Phe mountains, whose glittering peaks We're hi
Ike a jewelled crown, surrounded the valley tt
shielded it from the cold blasts of Slbe- lie
ian winds. Silver cascades dashed down Il
Inc precipices, through evergreen trees, flow n
shrubs and long pendant vines. The fl
emerald greensward that sloped down to the h
river was bespangled with a thousand gay and
odorous flowers; red Strawberries cleaned t
the grass the clumps OF shruooeTy S
were filed with delicious berries, and the !,
grape vines loaded the trees with purple cius- /
tiers. The choicest fruit grew spontaneously,
and the upland terraces were covered with
wheat and barley, sown by the lavish hand
of Nature, for the food of man.
In this delightful scene were scattered
groups of rustic cottages-small, simple, ruae
in structure, but so embowered with lohage
and surrounded with spreading trees, and so
A harmunu with the landscape, that each
cattle were lowing IN meadows, horses HeTgu@
ed in their rich pastures, and hocks of sheep
and goats gave beauty and animation to the
landscape. These were attended by shep-
herds and shepherdesses, dressed in simple
and graceful robes, and crowned with flow
ers. With the lowing and bleating herds,
the softened roar of the distant casca des, then
a summer breeze, the hum of bees, were min
gled the melodies of rude shepherds pipes,
and chorusses cf happy children at play. The
old people-their venerable heads covered
with silver locks, sat in the shade of spread
ing trees, talking together of the days of
their youth, or relating the traditions of their
ancestors and the events of their early days,
to the young people who gathered around
them, full of affection.
In this happy valley of the almost forgot
ten past, the wisest gov erned by his coun-
sells, and the most beautiful was queen
Where all were lovely as perfect health, free
dom from care andinnocence could make them,
lamar was most beautiful, as her GRANDPA
ther, Diem, was esteemed most sage. The
mother of Tama, who, in youth, had held the
place of her daughter, was esteemed for her
: virtue and wisdom as much as she had ever
been admired for her loneliness. The beauti-
!, full lamar was loved by all, old and young.
. As she wandered around the banks of the
river, in the dewy. morning, the blue frma-
ment, with its embroidery of silver clouds,
seemed but her canopy the trees and shrubs
3 nodded their homage; the flowers sent up
their sweet s of perfume; the birds warbled
4 their melodies for her delight the sweet
eyed gazelles approached her without fear.
y LII CtllS udILlOLy Vi udIuTC SIlc HdihCu-lS
queen, robed in lustrous white and crowned
with the choicest flowers.
Among all the youths who admired fair
lamar, two ofthe worthiest aspired to the ia
vor of her love. Annette was one OF the bra
o. vest as well as one of the noblest youths II
the valley. No foot was swifter in the race
is no arm stronger in the flood. tie coul6
,e, climb the precipice with the mountain goat
@ les fsop anEfSo OR 3 Che fdr the w6 heart OF the spottee
on the flocks of the valley.
IN. His cousin, Jaleph, was scarcely inferio
to him in manly sports. They had grown u
netie's black c1a a afTHa fneh other A likeI net Il
his ravens wing Jaleph'B shone like the go
den sunshine on thesea. Arnette's dark eye
pen flashed out their fires under his deep brow
nth -Jaleph's reflected the hues of the cerulea
ose heavens.
lfi- Both were brave, and strong, and heroi
alb If Annette had more strength and dignit,
ven Jaleph had more skill and grace. One W.
, of statelier in his walk-the other more aeri
de- in his dance.
Both loved her. In a thousand ways eac
i'm told his love. Annette presented her with
erse gorgeous plume of the bird of paradise j
eral leph wove her a garland of matchlessb eaut
ut made OF shells and flowers. Annette traine
and for her a horse fleet as the antelope; JaleI
ives learned to play the melodies which filled h
ts y innocent slumbers with enchanting dream
vres 80 beloved, lamar was very happy. \
rem one could tell which swain she favoured.-
) he Had each one been her brother, she could n
hall have been more kind. The aged people, WI
loved all their children, looked on and shoe
,ary their heads for they saw this must end, al
will they feared it might end in sorrow.
ick- The time came, when lamar, also, saw al
ind felt that the noble cousins loved her wi
,ans more than a brotherly love. Annette. t
more impetuous, first declared his passion.
that lamar" he said, Beautiful lamar,
nrn love thee"
mink Dear Annette" breathed from the OBJ
thew heart of the innocent maiden.
does wilt thou be mine ?'
est a Her beautiful face which had been radia
Ibev with happiness, was clouded now with dou
@ Of and ~perplexity. Annette saw, and asked agai
In deep, Subdued tones
oh! beautiful one, wilt thou, wilt tn
be mine p
The queenly girl covered her face with h
viz hands, and burst into tears.
the Jaieph that moment came upon them, no
,ited ing in his hand an offering of flowers.
anne stopped a moment in surprise at the da
lave brow of Annette, and the fearful distress
the his beloved lamar. He grew pale, as
bo heart told him the decisive hour had com,
9ow. With the frankness that belonged to
,der- age OF heroic nnocence-betOre centuries
thew ~selishness, rapacity, poverty and crime b
married the bodies and deformed the souls
men-he held out one hand to his rival, a
the other to the beautiful one they be
vb;S adored.
81, too, love you, beautiful Tamar!" s.
e we the youth with the blue eyes and the COLE
rec hair. God of our fathers, witness my d,
your love! Here we stand-choose between us
j in A pang hot through the heart of eac
Won but they stood, each nobly resigned to
fort fate that awaited him.
and lamar looked on each. So long had
tv an loved both, with the pure love of sain
m~aidenhood, that the deeper love now prof
= - cd only perplexed and distressed her. II
. could she take herself from either ? II
yonr hurt one when both so dear?
"Arnette! Jaleph! why ask me to choo
Are we not happy? So let US remain"
ok The young men looked in each others S
denned eyes, and each one felt that it co
be so no longer. The happy time had pass
never As the group stood, hand-in- hand, in
and glow OF sunset, the mother of lamar cal
pros in her sweet, matronly dignity, to q
truth them.
II 1t "What is this, my children p she ask
1ond- in alarm, as she saw their sorrowful faces
your her daughters falling tears.
next "Dear mother p cried lamar, show ca
dren, choose between those | love?"
nlllar The mother smiled. but the smile was