Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-01-30
NO. 23.k


%e.Were OH Ike tangent But somehow.
the cars were p, ,ovOkingly Sow. it was now
iuily two O'Clock, and | should have two
Inhes 10 walk after | reached the station
Dut tune never lags; neither do railroad
uanls wheh Tue Steam is up, and, Just tif-
Teen minutes oeiore four o'clock, | f0unl
niyseh "aihhig UP the broad gravel walk
leading to the capacious old hrown farm
house, where my bOyhood had baan nassed
and where memory still loves to lincar Rut T
had no taste for moralizing ON tineS aeonn
just then.
My eager inquiry, after the first Affection
ate solutions of father and mother were over
was:
s'Where is Kqte?'
saw tear trembling in my mothers eve
as she looked very deep into mine as r. -
read my thoughts; then answered in h.r
old, calm, soft, winning way:
in her own room, Harry, dressing to be
married" "
" 0 mother -
1t was all | could say. For past memor;a,
were blurring my eyes and choking NV VOICE
and | fairly broke down, without one ~
of comment; for, despite all my susniconS
Hates uniform never, Harry, never. i :
so like sacrilcge;" would come up to silencn
them all and | had loved Kate's Henry as =
brother.
How | did want to see Kate; but then
dreaded the meeting. My mother read NV
feelings, and said she did not wish to see any
one until she started for church.
Then she is to be married in church 9
oh yes; she couldn't bear to be married
in that same room
1t was but few momeuts-before nv
feelings had time for reaction-uutil Mr. Par
ister.
When Kate made her appearance, | saw
there was no ostentation she leaned upon
the arm of young widow friend. As her
ewes met mine, the blood rushed to her lace,
and then retreate1, leaving her paier thsn
before. Placing her finger on her mp, she
extended her hand; and when took IN
mine 1t trembled, and was icy cold.
And knew how deep memory was STIR
ring the fount of other years. L knew there
was cherished picture, hung in the inner
chamber of that throbbing heart, that DO al,
tertime. or affection, OF circumstance, coulo
ever efface-and | was satisfied
AS Kate stood at the altar, calmly giving
the responses required in the beautiful churcn
ritual-cementing two hearts into one--"sG
| long as VIC both do live" / saw her heac
turned once, inquiringly, as if fancy wa
sas& & SEq@g1s @ ssek sY s s se noble And ssup p
tom of another bridal party, that belongs
to other days.
The last eve before I was to leave th
scenes and home of early life, as stood b.
i Henry's grave, was alone; and maryelled
standing there, if it would be always SO, an,
called it woman's 6clleness.
But when have gone to visit Kate an
the other choice, have learned more char
ty. Wien have seen how the lonely saC
ness and sorrow has been lifted from Kate
young brow, and what contented trust
settled there again-not like the gushing 10
of first blissful experience, but quie
holy calm, as if it were all earth had to Civ
now, and the soul was content with her gi'
ing.
And Kate would take some convenier
season, when Mr.. Parker was absent, or ei
gagged in his study, 10 take my arm-sayin;
so naturally: Harry, brother, will 20
walk p Inyoluntarily, our footsteps alway
led to the same determination. And the
standing beside that sacred spot, Kate lovt
still to glide back to the blissful days tn
were-and to talk of loves early dream
: to ask me- so artlessly, if Henry wasn't all
r young, trusting heart could wish for-if 81
a hasn't reasons to treasure the memory
c their short welded life
= But it does rot at all mar Mr.. Parker
peace or ndpplneSS ne KNOWS haIe Is a IA
! py, cheerful, contentcd, affectionate, faithf
: wife to him-all he could desire her to
!. and he would not have her forget her b
l. red love-ah, no, he is not so selfish or c
elusive; he could not respect her, if S
J. were TO- But it is not best she should ma
% any demonstration in his presence 1t wou
d not be necessary.
He, too has a cherished picture-a loy
- memory that once made sunlight in
= dwelling, he has cnshrined, hung aw
~ among the treasured mementoes oflIfe's cal
joys. Oh, he coul not tear it from IFS mic
- - in memory's gallery-for affection and 6
- - row have both aided in carving that lit
'e graph upon the tablets of his heart X
knew it, although he never told her.
= a When they have quiet, easy, social,
&c &C mestic evening at home, around their 0
u u hearthstone-as every happy family hayt
~ they never take Of the past they only 10
so hopefully, to the future-and take up
!, song of sincere thanksgiving for pres
: blessings.