Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1836-10-12

NATURES TEACHER.

when was cnllQ, knew an oiu
grey-headed man. Age had given him
wisdom, and l loved him, for he was
kind as we'll as wise. Once he said to
me, 4 know way to be happy who
taught it to your l inquired, and he
answered, learned it in the fields.
Then / drew near and entertained him
to teach it also to me. But he replied,
go forth into the fields, among the
living things and learn it for myself
So l went forth, looked attentive
| ly upon all that was moving around.
But no voice spoke to me. Then l re-
turned to the grey-headed nan. And
when he asked swhat hast thou seen
in the fields? ! answered.
Il saw the brook flowing on, among
sweet flowers. 1t seemed to be sing
ing merry song. listened, but there
were no words to the music. The
sparrow flew by me with down in her
beak, wherewith to line her nest, and
the red breast, with crum she had
gathered at the door to feed her chirp-
ing young. The ducklings swan be-
side their mother in the clear stream,
and the hen drew her chickens under
her wings and screamed at the soaring
hawk. The spider threw out her many
threads like lines Of silver, and fasten-
ed them from spray to spray, ran light
ly on the bridge mede from her own
body. The snail put his horrid head
through the door of his shell, and
drew it suddenly back. The ant car
ried grain of corn in her pincers, and
the loaded bee fastened to her hive,
like a laborer to his cottage. The dog
came forth and guarded the young
lambs, Fl isking fearlesslv by the side
of their serious mother, who cropped
the tender grass. All seemed full Of
happiness. l asked them how also
should be happy. But they made me
no reply. Again and again asked,
IsWho will teach me the way to be hap
lpy.!' Yet nothing answered. ;,c
echo ever repeating my last words, -
.happy-happy,' but not to tell me
how to become so.'
Hast thou looked upon all these
said the aged, young man, yet receiv-
lex no instruction.? Did not the brook
tell thee, that it might not stay to be
idle, that it must haste to meet the riy-
err and go with that to the ocean, to do
the bidding of the oceans king, and
that it had pleasure by the way, in re-
freshing the trees that stretched their
roots to meet ,and in giving drink to
the flowers that bowed down to it's face
with kiss Of gratitude! Thou didst
see the birds building their nests, or
flying with food to their little ones;-
land couldst thou not perceive that to
make others happy was happiness?'-
Theyoungduck gave diligence to learn
of its mother, the true use of its oary
feet, and how to balance its body right
in the deep water; and the chickens
obeyed the warning to hide under the
broad wing, though it knew not the
cruelty of the foe from which it fled.
And did they not bid thee seek with
the same obedience, the lessons Of thy
mother, who every day teacheth thee,
and every night lifted up her prayer,
that thy soul may avoid the destroyer,
and live forever? When the spiders
silkcn bower was swept away, ana she
began another without i'll temper or
complaint, and the snail willingly put
forth alEher strength to carry her house
upon her back, and the ant toilcd with
her load Of corn to her winter store
house, and the bee wasted not the
smallest drop Of sweetness, that could
be found in the honey cups-came
there no voice to thee from their ex-
ample Of patience, prudence and wis
dom? Thou didst admire the shep-
herds dog, minding SO readily the
word of his master, but failed to un-
derstand that faithful continuance in
duty is happiness. From all these
teachers of the field, came there no
|precept unto thee? When they all
lspake with different voices, vert thou
deaf to their instruction? Each in his
own language told thee, that industry
was happiness, and that idIeness was
an offence both in nature and her God
Then l bowed down my head, and
|my cheek was crimson with shame, be-
cause / had not understood the lessons
of the fields, and was ignorant of what
even birds and insects knew. But the
man with hoary hairs smiled on me
and comforted me. So / thanked him
! for the good teachings of his wisdom.
And / took his precept into my heart,