Litchfield enquirer., 1836-09-22


 everlasting uSountains-those altars in the temple of nature and what incense ever arose from human altars, like the bright and beautiful mountain mists that float around the eternal heights, and then rise above them and are dissolved into the pure anc transparent ether--like the fast fading shad. ows of human imperfection, losing them. selves in the splendor of heaven And what voice ever spake from human altar, like the voice of the thunder from it's cloudy tabernacle on those sublime heights of the creation, when @
 Not from one lone cloud
 But every mountain height hath found tongue,
 And Jura's answers from her misty shroud,
 Back to the joyous Alps who call to her aloud 2"
 And, in fine, what anthem or paean ever rolled from organ to orchestra or from the voice of the countless multitude, like the dread and deafening roar of ocean, with all the swelling multitude of waves2 Yes, the temple of nature is full of inspiration, full of objects that inspire devotion, and SO, as far as may be, should our temples of prayer and thanksgiving be made.
 To say, as if to detract from the sancti- ty ot religious edifices, that here, after all, is only so much wood, and stone, and nor tar, which are nothing but the same mass of materials in any other form, or devoted to any other purpose-why we talk not so of our homes-wc talk not so of nS,ure-we talk so of nothing else. Itis by mixing up intellectual and spiritual associations with things, and only so, that they have any in terest or importance to our minds. Things are nothing but what the mind makes them to be-nolhing but by an infusion into them of the intellectual principle of our own na- tnre. The tuft that is shorn from the war rior's plume by the scythe of death, is nothing else if one pleases so to consider it, but the cut plumage of a bird. The relic of a sainted martyr--suppose it were a hem of his garments, if one pleases SC to consider it, nothing else but piece of cloth that protected him from the winters cold, or the summers heat. The place where his broken and lacerated body was laid down to rest may be accounted com mon earth !; and the mouldcring remains of a buried empire. may be accounted common dust. The Palatine hill on which stood the palace of the imperial Caesars, and which is now covered with ruins, may be accounted common hill. But so we do not speak of things, nor think of them.
 No; let us yield to that principle of our nature which imparts a portion of its own character to the things around us which, with kind of creating power. MAKES times. and seasons, and places to be holy: which gathers halo of glory and beauty over our native land which accounts the maxim devoutly true, that there is no place like home ; and which hallows the 'ptace where prayer is wont to be made'-which accounts no place like it--and yet so ac- counting it, judges that to be good work which makes temples of a nations worship strong and beautiful, for the use and admi- ration of successive ages. # s 7He Beggar at tke Barrier de Pdssy. II From the Frsnch.l Many years since, waen was a young man about twenty years of age, I used very frequently to spend the Sunday with my mother. who resided at Versailles, this being the on.y day of the week on which could leave Paris. l generally walked as far as the Barrier, and thence took seat in one of the public carriages to my mothers house. When l happened to be too early for the diligence, I used to stop and converse with a began whose name was Anthony, and who regularly took his station at the Bar rier de Psssey, where. in loud voice, he solicited aims from every one who passed. with degree of perseverance, that was re- ally astonishing. I generally gave him a tri6e without inquiring whether he deserv' ed it or not, partly because had got into the habit of doing so, and partly to get rid of his impor,unities. One day in summer as was waiting for the diligence, | found Anthony at his usual post, exerting his lungs, and bawling necessarily his accus- toned form of petition" For the love ol heaven bestow your alms on poor man Messieurs, Mesdames. the smallest tr'fie will be gratefully received"
 While Anthony was in this manner pour inc his exclamations into the ears of every one who came within the reach of his voice, middle aged man of respectable appear ance joined me. Ho had pleasant .e. pressIon uf countenauce. was very well dressed, and it might be seen at a glance that he was man in good circumstances. Here was a 6l subject for the beggar, who quickly made his advances, PrOclaiming in loud voice his poverty. and soliciting re- lief. You need not be begger unless you please replied the gentleman, when you can have an income of ten thousand crowns You are pleased to jest, sir, answered Anthony. By no means,' said the gentleman; never was more serious in my life. Listen to me, my friend. You perceive that an, well dressed, and tell von that have avery thing that a reason-