Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-04-10
~ I return thanks for the following ele-
CANT Contributions, and hope to hear from
the writers often

CANT contributions, n nope TO hear from
the writer's often;
roR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE
Obsta Principiis.
Oppose beginnings. What volumes of
wisdom these two words contain! What q
delightful and safe motto for the world!-
how much woe, misery and wretchedness
would the needing of this heavenly admoni-
uon ward off from the suffering sons and
daughters OF Adami But man is prone to
forget that everything has a beginning
The Father Of Waters" rippl.n g along over
the pebbles and winding its course among the
hills, not more than a span in breadth, does
not attract the attention. 1t is then too
small TO notice. 1t is only after it begins to
roll down its mighty food the waters of a
thousand tributaries, that it appears in its
majesty and excites our admiration. All
things, both great and small, have a begin
ming.
The ambition, which has so often desola-
ted the world and heaped the plains with
mountains Of the dead, had a beginning
small one too, it may be-perhaps nothing
more at first than a desire to be first in an
obscure village, rather than second in the
Queen that sat upon seven hills, and gave
laws TO the world.
The religion of the wild, f~anatical Mos
lem, which has spread oyer the faireSt por-
tons of the globe, aud in its progress was
accompanied with fire and sword, had for its
first disciples q woman, and for a long while
but few ~votaries; yet ia eighty years it ex-
tended over more territory than the proud
eagles of Rome did in eight centuries.
THE Great Western Land Pirate" who
filled a continent with the most atrocious
robberics and murders, commenced his ca
reer by the small act of purloining a few good:
from an unsuspecting peddler.
The drunkard, as frenZied and furious a.
the Malay running Gna0k, or the ~ferociou
Northman of old, becoming 6erscrker, otter
takes the first step in that direction at som
splendid party, graced with the elite of tn
land, or amid the social cheer of a circle {
friends Oppose beginnings in a way tina
may lead to ruin. Set yoar face agains
them with a steady, determined will. RI
member the story of Obidah: allured frol
one scene of beauty to another, he straye
off from the right road, and was soon gropin
his way in gloomy darkness, surrounded vii
the dismal howlings of wild beasts aud pc
ted with the fury of a roaring tempest. l.
: only one step be taken in the ways of impr
/ dence, and there will be found countless ba
) riers to prevent the erring person from I
turning to the path of reclitude.
: Things, bad begun, are made strong by il
n There is extant, a small book, on who
title page is written, "A Tale of Truth a
- which most graphically portrays the i'll c,
IL sequences of a step in the wrong directlt
e Whether the story be true or not, ma
4 things quite as improbable have at differt
j, times occurred. It's pages contain a descr
= ton of one, who was the very impersonati
lie Of purity, beauty and innocence. She v
c, the only child of doting parents, and the
"a. lace and comfort of their declining years
For her alone was life desirable to them
But, alas the tempter. came that way.
IT. an evil moment the lovely one read a n
its slipped into her hand by a handsome 70,
ey officer. This was an express violation Q
command frequently enioined by those '
loved and watched over her, and proved
Oh be the initiatory step towards preparing
en- herself a ehalice of misery, which the I'M
he pecting offender was doomed to drain to
"A: very dregs. She left the sweet music
gentle breezes of her own homestead gro
ar amid whose solitudes reposed her father,
the mother, and aged grandfather, and, lii
is lamb to the slaughter went with her be
ana IHnoSpltauie CfIIIe, WleTea SaItanI "
Is nation was struggling for its liberties.
tNO lit RIuuy IOIEIuO Vi pICdOuIO3 anu OLAAho
ON din and confusion OF war, the lovely out
-; con6ding one was forgotten, and left Fl
less and helpless in a strange land, far
up the f~raternal roof Like one slipping he
uni extracted from poison flowers, she,
t. reading the encomiums and flattering v
of the young officer, never once SuSp
""o that they contained an envenomed
n all whose stroke was to rob her of peace
cause her, in piteouS accents, to implore
!. nd to COME to her relief Hear what she
- when q~uafing the bitter dregs of the
''"'" which her own imprudence-not opp
find a b~eginning-had prepared:
earn For what are natures charms combir
loral, To oRe whose weary breast
moral Can neither peace nor comfort find,
Nor frieRd whereon to rest.
Vi.eg- Oh, never, never whilst | live,
Can my hearts anguish cease;
.;,;,u Come, friendly death, thy mandate 8
And let me be at peace.
Many persons fear, even to think, of
n thing that may possibly be the frs
. IoAI in the road to ruin, lest the guardian
ecome that is lowering over them, should k
hiona- and chide them for 1t. But after long
Grating and careening from one side
"" other, with many misgixings they reluC
young and TREMENDOUSLY venture to make a she
otions When this is done, the delinquent Il
onest smartiRg under the lash Of c~onseien
- appeases the clamors Of that divine u
'N'S' by promising himself that the next t
Or I'M ton shall be passed UNDECIDED. But o
boldly delusive are such hopesl How man
r;nJes lions have been iruetrievably ruined
dulging them? All the Siren wants
s"ect' victims to perdition, is fer them once
Proud. their ears and listen to her sweet s
ok the Many are then manacled with letters
mi, no resolutions whatever can break.
one on the brink sf a precipice. tt
sPe4A drawn aleng without power to resist
noble the dreadful chaSm they would avoi
r busi- pose beginnings.
iVice is a monster Of SO kr;sAtfui 4
lll iaI-AAAAA~trr+ere vreh pity, then en-
ch Lead FLO
%ornful-