Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-02-12
g Sunshine.

We believe the cheering rayssof Sne sun
affect the animal, as much as tney 90 luz
vegetable part of creation. II they oeU
scured from his vision, by long pretractea
clouds, even man himself become morose,
melancholy and dull. The world seems to
have lost its greatest charna, and Dependency
apparently broeds over darkened nature. It's
joys have lost their zest, his former pleasures
.cloyAlPon h~is.appetite, and he settles down
into a crossfunhappiness. But when old Sol
again dashes from before his bright face the
murky clouds that for a time have %enshroud-
ed him, how refreshing he appears, and how
v~ivifying is the influence felt on every thing
around.
Such q season, as we pen these lines, we
are now enjoying. For more than a month
| previous we have had the most disagreeable
weather. For atime we began to t~hinktheold
fuminary had cut our acquaintance altogether,
and had gone to shed his genial rays entirely
on some other Hemisphere. But he is out
again in all bis glory the birds are singing
blythe and happy, and every thing looks
ct,eerfula and. joyous. Thanks be to God for
the Sun. But SO uncertain are all things
"here below" that he may yet "cut" us
again, before many days, and leave usragan
in moody darkness. Even before our readers
may see this paragraph the" sky with clsSds
may be over cast" ard the rain be in tor.
rents pouring.
How at an emblem this, of human life i
To-day the sunshine of prosperity haloes
every thing around us-to-morrow, the dark
clouds of adversely scatter all our joys, leav-
ing scarce a wreck behind. To-day, wife,
children, friends cluster around AS, to bright
en- eur pathway, and cheer and comfort the
freside-to-morrow, the dark shadow Of
death folds each and all in his icy embrace,
and the cold, damp earth claims them as her
own. To-day the bright bow OF promise en-
circles the head of that gay young man, as he
steps out upon the theatre Of life, the pride
and hope Of doting parents-to-morrow, the
fell destroyer has marked him for his own,
and he returns to the p~aternal mansion a de
graded drunkard, to drag his parents dewr
in sorrow to the grave. Ol Intemperanoe
how many noble vessels, freighted with th,
priceless jewel of an immortal soul, mas beer
wrecked on thy dangerous strand. But
thank Heaven, hope is not yet Comet On,
b~eacon-light still peers above the spray-on,
glorious orb Of light still illuminates ia
pathway to seeurity-it is to be found in tn
temple of the "Sons"-where man is laugh
to let "LovE" lead him to mediate with de
light on all subjects connected with the glor
lof God and the good of man-to LOT .D-
pr-v. - er.~sso~ros shed its sweetnes
over his whole life-and FIDELITY" as
Isilken cord, bind him to TEMPERANCE and t
HoNoR.
of Temperance, he is taught to pledge hi
Brothers health, " not in the fiery draugh
which guilt prepares for folly, but in til
beverage pure which God himself hath giver
to quench our thirst and quicken throug
our veins the tide of heathful life-in clea
bright, sparkling water" Who, then, wi
not join in the response" Thanks be
God for Waterl"
/, "For the lake, the well, the river,
; Water-brook aud crystal spring,
; Do we now, to thee, the Giver,
Thanks, our daily tribute bring"