The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-05-22
THE TWO SPIRITS,

green island in golden sea, and purple
sky that hung above it, like a dream of love
over a sleeping maiden. Far inland, the enchan.
ted forests giooIned and iaskencd, and from their
deep recesses came the murmur of the pines.
Sweet fragrance sreathed from hills, and along
the shore the waves broSe in music. Beneath .
little bush, ali starred with crimson and azure,
slept little fairy, ike sinai! white cloud, drop
ped from the heavens above. When he shook
his golden curls the sun shone brighter, when
his breatAings stirred the flowers, the music was
as that OF wind harp; and when at last his blue
ewes slowly opened in delight. the blue air swan
in deeper Iustre. Beautiful and happy was the
Fairy in his solitude, but on his parted lips, slept
the sweet sadness of his bliss.
Now the sun was sinking in a mist Of spray,
circlins within arches Of splendor. The Fairy
moved his snowy wings, reposing on the air
like a swan upon the buoyaLt wave. He saw
the glorious path sparkling over the sea, far
away to the wondroas temple, that the spirits
of light and air build up as a beautiful dream.
He saw the sunset temple rise, as of old enchan.
ted islands rose, then sank again forever. And
the vision became dim, as the face beloved too
well, seen through the tears, is dim, and faced
away from the sky, and melted into the sea,
and over it, the star OF the evening trembled in
sorrow.
And far out at sea, the Fairy sought the
place where the glory had been, but was not.
Then the North frOwned, and muttered, and
Kissed out of darkness; q storm swept the
ocean, whrled the waves into mountains, and
caught the Fairy in his arms, tossed him to the
skies, and dashed him downward to the roaring
CULTS. Past affrghted ships, fleeing like ghosts.
past ships struggling with the whrlpools that
dragged them down; the storm sped on, and
the Fairy was the sport of his wrath, until at
last, like giant exhausted Of his own strength,
prone upon the ocean ne had maddened, fell the
storm and like a leaf torn from tree, the Fairy
huttered feebly on a rock bound shore.
And at red dawn, upon the brown and barren
strand, the fisher maidens found him lying
among the wrecks of great ships, and s;andin 9
apart, said, in low whispers, "Lo it is the spirit
of the Beautiful" But as the first RAYS of the
sun touched him, the Fairy rose, and fearing the
storm, fled far from the shore. SO it was hat
the spirit of beauty left his solitude and wander.
ed away into the world.
At night he heard the roar of great city, and
saw. like the light of a furnace, its fierce illu-
minatiOn kinded on the misty darkness, and he
passed through long streets, in which the people
struggled like surging waters, and dark alleys in
which fear lurked and hid. Rude noises, shocks,
and cries rushed by, and forms like those
Of evil COLLINS glared at each other as he passed.
And his heart sank within him, aud he would
have fed anew, but behold, even there in toll
and woe, he saw suddenly brother Fairy, whose
wand was tipped with fire, and shone like q star
in the darkness.
And he saw that where the light Of the wand
fell, all things changed and frightened. Upon
all ugliness it worked fantastic spells. In its
many colored gleam, mean novels we're as hap
py homes. Men greeted men with smiles, wan
and withered figures were transformed, and the
merry voices of the children rang out like the
chime Of bells. Music and cong and laughter
pursued the Fairy as he moved. In the won-
dr0us shadow Of the wand, the city seemed TO
longer wretched, for where the darkness was
deepest, there the star shone most brightly.
"Who art thoa, brother?" thus spake the
Spirit OF Beauty, in wonder, and the Fairy still
waving his wand, replied, 81 am he tha: ii
called the Spirit OF Fun, and dwell in the cities
and the homes of men. With the power to me
given, charm their weary lives. Without me.
what would their toll be but sorrow, with neither
blessing nor repOse. For thee, have long wal
ted: for behold brother" said the Spirit of Fur
pointing with his wand, and his smile was even
ssdder than the others, ais there not need o.
both of u.s." And the Spirit of the Beautiful
embraced the Spirit Of Fun, and together they
passed away into the gloom.
And now forever they move throug hout the
world, blessing with equal power, the children
| of earth, and he who finds not the one nseG
search no longer for the other.-Stoekton.