Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-05-08
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
Happiness-A Vision.

- AOAott tHC oNCtA44 y TIC ak t0iKUL /
suggest or recollection call Up from the mis-
ty tnazes Of the past Of the many themes
which presented themselves to my mind for
reflection, none seemed so congenial to the
state in which it was, as that Of Happiness.
1t occurred to me, that the different oocupa-
tons In which mankind are everywhere en-
gagged, are only so many different methods of
seeking the road that lead to the bowers of
Happiness. Though the experience of the past
furnishes sad proof hat only a very few, if
any, Of the innumerable throng who have
spent their whole lives in searching for that
road, have found it this side of Eternity, yet
their failures do not deter others from ma
king the same attempt. The whole world
appeared 10 me like a great stage, on which
was a countless multitude OF actors, hastily
moving to and fro in every direction, each
~intently engaged in performing his own part,
but all aiming ultimately to reach the same
goal. of all the roads, supposed to lead to
the spot where may be found the priceless
boon so eagerly sought after by all, it occur
red to me that none appears SO desirable
so much to strike the fancy of man-ss those
Of Fame and Wealth.
| had spent many weary hours in deVising
schemes by which ! might reach that road,
but seemed rather to be stray:ng off from
it. Sometimes the pleasures and ~splendors of
wealth would rise up before me in all their
beauties, and there would come into my mind
an almost iFrepressible desire to abandon every
thing else, and devote all my energies to the
accumulation of. SO potent an instrument
! of happiness. And sometimes the applauses
of listening Senates and entranced audiences
would fall on my ears, and oh, how sweetly
they sounded. | thought ! would be happy
indeed, were my name on e~yerybody's lips
and my presence everywhere greeted with
shouts of praise.
Musing thus, and occasionally CHANGING at
the wide-exten2ed cotton fields, arrayed in
snowy robes, lying on each side of the road,
| walked on until | reached a majestic pine
forest, covered with a considerable UNDER
growth of oak. | entered a few PAGES and
seated myself at the foot of a large pine
The busy hum of the adjacent plantation
the merry shouts of the happy negroes, and
the harsh squeaking of the cotton screws,
mingled with the mellow notes of the au-
tumn congratulated the air around me.
Thus circumstance | sat with my eyes fixed
upon the groud, meditating on my favorite
$ ubj e ct-llAPPINEss-and asking myself
where it could be found. On raising my eyes
L beheld before me a stately edifice, as beau
tiful as the palace of Cordova. Its floors
were covered with silken carpets and its walls
hung with golden tapestry. Damask cur
tainS ofth richest hue shaded the windows,
rejecting the beams of the sunjust entering
the golden window of the west The fra
GRANGE of the flowers, which adorned the
yard, waited on the evening breezes, was as
CRATE ful as that of the Cinnamon groves of
Ceylon. In a word, it was respondent with
everything that money could procure
Surely, said !, the inmates of such a mag
nifcnnt paiaca cnrroundad with en- mnch
wealth and splendor must pass their days in
uninterrupted pleasure. Discomfort and sor
row can have no admittance here. Midas
himself could not have wished for more
While gazing with delight and admiration
on the grand spectacle before me, beheld
lily fingers draw aside the rich curtains from
a window, on the second story, and q lovely
female seated herself. The early bloom o
/, maiden loneliness had been supplanted bythoS,
more winning charms which cluster arounC
: fair woman's form. The breeze s of ~nineteer
summer had famed her lovely face, ant
S SfdSfRd her marble bust u S siHh r rsxe5iap nc
elbow ON the easement sill. and her voIvo
hand held her recumbent head, While a shad
of sadness sat upon her brow. Her eyes ga
d zing into the immensely of space, she ar
i peared to be deeply absorbed in meditaticr
While | was regarding the lovely form be
u fore me, more like some wandering scrap
y escaped from the mansions of bliss, than
child of earth, there stood near me, clothe
in modest attire, another female, who tol
> me that her occupation was to direct inqui
ers to the road that leads to true happiness
l. She told me that the fairy-like form in Il
!. palace window was masing on all the wOr
calls bleSsed-that she was a child of TO
e tune-that Golconda's jewelled mines h:
i laid their sparkling wealth at her feet, ar
v rills from all the fountains of earthly wi
: dom had replenished and purified her min
that she had run the giddy round of cart
lg ly pleasure, and slipped of every cup whi'
is the world had assured her contained draugn
Y. of BLISS. She then babe me listen. I hea
the child of, fortune sigh deeply and exclai
OF % where shall happiness be found? Dc
ne it dwell with those who live in princely ha
We and whose brows are deckcd with royal d
Sc dems? Oris it to be found in the poinp u
splendor Of wealth, or in the praises and a
We plauses of an inconstant, 6ckle world?
Ny instructress then babe me arise and
mt company her into the magnificent palace.
re, She led I'M Into a gorgeously decorated apa
no ment, which presented a scene of solemn
ny such as is seldom witnessed. On a giltcou
"a was lying one, whose wan cheek, sunken e
Oh and deSpairing look. announced that lie "
Cd on the verge Of the eternal world-that
cold hand of the angel of Death was beck,
re ing him away forever from all earth's pie
rs, ures. Presently a gentleman arrayed in r.
~, al robes with a glittering crown upon
az head, entered the room, walked gently up
oSe the bed side of the sick man, and asked /
I'D how he felt. Sire replied the sick IN
AZ 4 am suffering the pangs of the damned.
ma My instructress then addressing herself
the me, sald-'Yon dying man was but lately
use the head of the political affairs of a mig
empire, and the constant attendant and co
be, selior of ROYALTY. He was honored as
lies first Businessmen and prince of diplomat
His praises we're prattled by the lips of
ing infants, and the welcome need of
sa- plause greeted him wherever he appear
nee ALI this he enjoyed in life, yet behold
miserable death. See how the appro
hall of the king of terrors has depicted des
the in every feature.
She then conducted me to another ap
ment in the same mansion, in which all
s"u still, for death was there. In the midst {
o1 was one, whose suffering clay was wrap
in coldneSs, and whose immortal mind
strayed to worlds unknown. In one col
you; of the room was standing a golden Tyr
NV instructress said tG me-'The body w
you is now before you, was lately the tener
of a mind which the world delighted to
,dov a genius. When his light fingers swept
strings of yon golden Tyre, the entranced
the tions listened at the melody of its strair
If astonishment. He stood unabashed on
riate very summit OF fame lo'y temple,
the even stopped to know what others strov
- Al ~ .-oo H., xyaf ha na,a. &