Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-04-17
FOR THE SPIRIT OF TIE AGE.
A Spring Mornings Meditation.
BY A. B. GALLOWAY.

Irose early in the morning, attendeot 10 my
toilet ate nv breakfast, retired to my study,
and seated myself to read. To my left STOOD
a brace of shelves, on which was arranged .
large number of bottles, walls, &c, containing
bal,n for a multitude of human ills. Imme-
diately in front of my seat, and towards the
cast was the Office window. To my right
stood a large table, upon which lay a huse
nile Of leather-bound books, containing all
.h4 medical lore Of modern times, besides q
creature was astir. The forest trees were T
clothed in their rich green summer mantle,
and a host of merry warblers seemed to vie
with each other as to who should sing the
sweetest anthem to their Makers praise.
The hour for school had not vet arrived.
but the village children had assembled at the
academy, and were engaged in their youthful
sports, while their shrill young voices rang
out discordantly, yet pleasantly through the
village.
just as the ringing Of the school bell sum-
mored the children from their sports to their
studies, some louager in a ~neighboring bust.
ness house took up the flute and began to
play one OF those mournful airs that never
fail to inspire the pure in heant with holy
thoughts. Its melodious strains were waft ed
upon the balmy air to my attentive ear, and
| was delighted so much with these SIGHTS
and sounds, that almost forgot my mortality
and subsection to death.
just then noticed my Ledger lying be-
fore me, and remembered that had some ac-
counts OF the previous days work to transfer
10 It's pages. On opening it, some objects met
my gaze, that Immediately changed the cur.
rent OF my thoughts and filled my soul with
deep sorrow and gloom. They were tokens of
lost affection, consisting of several braids Of
hair.
Some of these were from the heads Of ob
sent sisters whom l have not seen for a l,np
while. One was a lock from the head of a
own fingers and pfeserd%eS MATTED by her
our n%uptials, and worn around my wrist as a
token of fidelity. Another was from the
golden ringlets of nay own dear little daugh
ter, and was clipped after she was cold in the
icy embrace of death, and her gloriaed spirit
made a Shining angel around Gods dazzling
throne.
The sight of these precious m~ementoes,
brought a food of tears to my eyes, and |
i~nvoluntarily wept. My mird was instantly
carried back 10 the days of yore, and Hooked
again in my Imagination upon the scenes Of
the past.
Then | wondered if any of my former &C
quaintances, friends or relations who have
passed away, had unfortunately doomed
themselves to the bottomless pit, and a wan
Of knowledge as to the certainty troubled my
heart. But hope came to the rescue, ant
comfolted me with soothing words of conso
lation.
Then the vision of my mind took an up
ward flight and surveyed the magnificenc
and respondent glory of the EAvEN woRLl
and the beatifc joys and unalloyed Happiness
of the redeemed.
But soon awoke from my reyerie, an,
again looked out. The god of day had ascen
ded high in the heavens, and his golden beam
penetrated the window panes and fell with a
their brilliancy at my feet. All things wer
going on as before but nature had temper.
rily lost its attractions for me, and [ askec
what is natural life9 but a vapor, a shadow
a slender thread that may be snapped in
moment by the most trivial accident, and il
existence be abruptly brought to a terminu