Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-11-02
Hiterature,
From the Christian Index.
THE NEW LIGHT. ~
BIZ MRS. MARY A. M'cKImsfoN.
CHAPTER I.


native of South Carolina, married young
anc emigrated with her husband to the
Northeast part OF Georgia. Here, after
ten evsntful years, her husband died,
leaving her with an involved estate, and
two little girls, one exactly five wears OIL
der than the other. With energy aud
prudence, she managed to save a small
competency out Of the remnant of her
prep, II, with which to liys respectfully
a.G Independently at home, and raiss
and educate her daughters.
At the age ofsixteen her oldest daueb-
ter, Nora, married thriving merchant
Ga neighooring town, and settled some
twenty miles from her mothers. After
marriage she would have given her moth
er and sister a home in her house. but
Mrs. Harcourt refused to accept it:
1t IS always best for young people to
live by themselves after marriage" she
!" replied, when the subject was mentioned
to her. you and Mr.. Norton will EN-
JOY yourselves best, and and Elsie. will
get onaadmirably until | am compslled
TO send her away to school, but for tho
present Rock Spring Academy is amply
sufficient for her education"
Thequestion was urged no further,
for Mrs Harcourt was woman of de-
clslon OF character, end when hor mind
was once made up, was not easily chang
4 ed. She and Elsie therefore ernairied in
their quiet country home-the former at
tended to her domestic concerns, and the
latter pursuing her studies until death
claimed another victim from the little
family circle. Mrs. Harcourt met the
I. king of terrors as a christian alone can
meet rim, but she had much unsasiness
: q NM With reSaId e Elsie gor Mrs.
was withal pious woman, she felt no
particular anxiety but the case was
widely different with her beautiful, high
spirited child, just budding into woman
hqsd, whs had never sought an interest
in bNe Saviour. How could her barque
Of life drift down the perilous currents
before her, without mothers guiding
hand, and how could she bear to leave
her beautiful one exposed TO the dangers
and temptations of wicked world, with.
out tho favor of that friend that stick =
eth closer than brotherV
These were questions which she could
only answer by committing her darling
daughter to the mercy OF the sinners
friend.
Seek the Saviour, my precious child,
were amsng the last words that she ut
tered. Now, while the dew of youth
is fresh upon thy soul, oh, make your
peace with God. Better than a moth
er's lsvs will be his love to you, but, oh
if you refuse it, sorrow, deep, heartfelt
sorrow will be your portion, for l can
not think the child of my prayers wh
finally be lost but the Lord wiA send
some sore calamity to bring you to re-
pentance."
Her mothers death was great ,,shocl
to Elsie, and, for while, it seemed thai
she was really penitent; but, as time
the great assuager of our grief effacst
the bitterness of her sorrow, her religious
impression also wore away. She remov
ed to her sisters house, after her moth.
er's death, and there met gay and frir
nlous society, who hattered ana carress-
81 YER into torgetfulness of serious things
,ints was because she Was so beautiful
and she is by no means the only girl t.
whom lovely face has been a splrltua
misfortune. She could not fail to at
tract attention anywhere, with her com
plexion so marble white, and eyes an
ripping curls so bright and jetty dark
But these were all enhanced by a sum
spirit that threw its radiance sverywher
she went. No wonder she became
belle, and that too soon for her mentE
good No assembly of pleasure.seekeI
was deemed complete without her.
Knowing it to have been her mothsr
wish, Mr.. Norton cndeavored to kse
her out Of fashionable society until h,
course Of study was complete but ha
lag once tasted the adnlation- which IS
ciety" bestows upon its votarics, it W;
bat natural that she should desire
drink more deeply of the sweet, intos
icating draught. She had winnir
way about her, toe, that could not
well resisted; in consequence, her 81
ter yielded an inch at time until she.t
came the reigning and acknowledged be
of Grsenvillc.
Scores of admirers now focked arour
her, until she 0cydelly began 60 81,
symptoms Of coquetry. She vas Il
howeyer. from being conhFNed e
ouette, Tor she still possessed an earne
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