Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-05-04
From the Vermont Intelligencer.
A VISION.

A VISION.
| passed the evening in reading and
contemplation, and, retiring to rest, the
leaden hand of Morpheus soon stepped my
senses 10 forgetiuness, aud seemed trans
ported to those airy regions 6 where &C.
tive fancy travels beyond sense aud pic
lures things unseen.' Methought | was
wandering in solitary place, when on a
sudden, venerable figure stood before
me.
gazed on bin with the profoundest
reverence, and thought saw portrayed
10 his countenance the greatest wisdom
had ever known in man.
He was silent, yet by the eloquence Of
his actions, he seemed TO impress Oh me
this lesson " Man know thyself!'
Reckoning me TO follow, we walked on
|till we came to a large encIosure, which
we entered, and | saw it had the appear
ance Of an immense garden, divided into
small allotments-and each allotment hav-
ing an overseer or gardener, who cult
waited such plants as his inclination led
him to choose.
/ was enchanted with the prospect
and as looked on my guide with an en-
curing eye, he thus addressed me.
This extensive field, SO pleasing to
the eye, is not the property Of the nume-
rons gardeners by whom you see it cult
waited; but is leased for certain period
by the good Governor of the country
who requires no other rent than proper
cultivation of the soil and of the most val
liable plants.
To such he has given assurance, that
when their term of trial is ended, he will
give richer gardens, and that they shall
be the favourites at court. While those
who spend their tine idly, or cultivate
weeds instead Of flowers, shall be driven
out to pine in famine, and toll for subsist-
|ence on the barren waste.
+" Examine attentively the several
parts" said he, sand mark the different
courses pursued"
| looked around and saw some diligent-
y employed in plucking up every noxious
weed, pruning the useful plants, and en-
riching their allotments with whatever
would adorn or be useful.
Others remained in sloth and idleness,
suffered rank weeds to choke and root out
virtuous plants natural to the soil, or else
cherishing poisonous flowers merely for
show; thinking at the time of settlement,
to impose empty show on the governor,
for plants of real use. This, to ME, SEEM
ed singular; as the governor in great
kindness had given them a perfect rule,
and list of all the kinds Of fruit, which
would be acceptable.
Others, still, though they knew that
their own was all that concerned them,
seemed zealously employed in endeav-
curing to persuade others to take better
course at the same time wholly neglect
ing their own, which appeared in much
worse situation.
Some of the gardeners directed all their
care to few plants: others had a great
variety.
The growth of one plant in particular,
they all seemed assiduously striving to
assist-but thought the soil quite unfa-
vourable to it, as it dwindled pale and
sickly, and in no part of the garden was
seen to flourish; this plant was called
Happiness. Sometimes, indeed, it grew,
and even blossomed for fruit; but either
by some poisonous weed infected, or the
pestiIential vapours Of the atmosphere, it
always blasted before it came to maturity.
| perceived, however, that it succeeded
best where watered by Benevolence, and
where its roots entwined with those of the
sweet herb of Contentment.
No plant in the garden made prettier
appearance than Sincerity; but observed
that it was wanting in some Of the ailot.
ments, and, those who cultivated it had
to pay particular attention to it, lest the
vines Of DISSEMINATION spring up and
choke it.
With few exceptions all were striving
to promote the growth of plant called
Riches; but found this was Of no real
use, unless used as manure for the other