Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-12-31

l .ne = inverse deriving pleasure and instruc-
non from the past, the present and the future.
, III 'he order and beauty Of the silent firina-
, ment he hears Il still voice Whispering of the
goodness and greatness of its creator, and
his heart is filled with love and admiraiion.-
IN The green earth, its fruits, its rivers. and
us mountsIns, he sees the handiworl; of God
dispensing his bounties 10 man, and finds
sources oil enjoyment, gratitude and adInra-
'ioh' FOR nun, every wild flower has its Ian
guage, every little stream and shady grove
It's legend and its nymph. Even in the light
nings and thunders of Heaven, which carry
terror to the hearts of the ignorant and super
sntions, ne sees the rcd right hand of God
stretched forth 10 cleanse his atmospheric
Kingdom of impurities, and hears the voice
OF 'eioyah speaking to mis- people of his ina
iJesty and power, nor tr~.,rbi,s .i.s Sound
And, when the labors Of the day are over, he
returns to his home with glad spirit-not
TO KiH time with eating, and drinking and
sleeping, and to feel that life is burden. but
to hold communion with minds enlightened
as his own, to draw wisdom and pleasure
from the pages of History, to study the char
acter, and watch the progress Of his Govern
ment, to partake yet more largely of the
lights OF science, TO go with Milton and Shake
speare to the deep wells of temporal and
terna wisdom, or, more delightful still, TO
gather around his hearth the young and in
nocent beings, who lock 10 him for moral
and intellectual, as well as bodily susienancc,
and to Undue their minds with the princi-
pies of virtue and knowledge.
This last employment, how useful in itself.
how holy in its object, how grateful to ia
theirs heart !! From his lips the lessons,
coming, as they do, sanctioned by parental
authority, impressed by flial reverence, and
sweetened by parental love, sink deep into
tnslr understandings, and ripen for the fruit
OF alter years. He sees their Young minds
expanding under the rays Of knowledge, like
the morning flower under the sunshine Of
Heaven, and his manly bosom dila,es with
pleasure, and swels with honorable PRIDE
10 hlm, the long winter night is season of
bodily rest and intellectual eHjoyment-the
dark rainy day "God-send' welcomed by
mind and body--the Sabbath sweet refresh
er OF The wearied spirit when it takes refuge
from the cares and troubles of earth in com
mumon with Heaven. And. should Il dian
geon receive him, or total darkness fall upon
his eyeilds, still could he cheer the solitude.
and light the darkness with his own imagi-
nings, and send his spirit loosed from its frail
tenement abroad to hold converse with the
bright aud beautiful things of heaven and
earth. Or 10 some greatful friend, won by
his klndness, some dutilul son, tutored by
ms lips, or some gentle daughter or sister.
comes to him IN his atilietion. hnVers round
to the wants of mind and body and, by her
gentle endearmcnts, her varied conversation,
made eloquent by thought and feeling, and
her reading aloud in voice sweet and must
cal as the harps of the sheraplm, breathes
Joy and gladness into his heart, converts his
dungeon into paradise, ard for the ligl, of
day substitutes the more beautiful light Of
soul.
If then it be your duty and interest to I'M
prove your minds: if education be cssci tial
TO the discharge Of your political obligations
and the maintenance ofyour political rights,
and highly promotiye OF your social and do
neStic happiness; will YOU not seek It's at
tainment The ready answer tremblcs on
are true-we know that twera better for us
to acquire knowledge, but we canno--wc
know not the ,cGy-we have not the means.'
Listen. and | hope to persuade YOU that yen
can, to point out both the ,roy and the means.
And tirst, believe you educate your
selves by your own unnided eflorts.-I believe
you can, the humblest and poorest amongst
you. attain not only to knowledge but To
wealth and distinction, if you only have the
sciN, the determined. unbendimg resolution to
dose. what has been done, may be done again
under like circumstances you will freely
admit. Now, thousands, whose means We're
scanty as your own, have shown you the ,cCy
to do tlis.-Benjamin Franklin was the son Of
tallOw Chandler too poor to educate him; but
lac educated himself. He worh ed his passage
to Philadelphia, went into a priating Office.
spent every shilling he could spare i'll the
purchase of books, devoted every leisure hour
TO serious and useful study, and mate Himself
both great and good man. In life lie was
honoured. respected, and admired. both at
home and abroad; an humble instrument in
the hands of Providence for the working out OF
cur Independence; and the immortal philos-
opher and architect by whom the lightungs
have been arrested In their course and made
10 pass harmless from cur habitations lii
death no aristocrat Of the land holds so high
place i'll the atlcciionatc remembrance of his
counrFymcn. Elihu .Burrift, of Massachu-
sets, teaches you how much may be done by
industry and perseverance. He is scarcely
/ thirty years OF age, works eight hours daily
at his anvil, and vet has mastered ffly I'm
eunscs, is sought and admired by all and
has won the proud tile of ''Jhc learned Black
smith
/ Mr.. Bacr. Of Ohio, another Of the disciples
orVucan, is now distinguished member of
Congress, rising rapidly in the confidence cf
the people, and winning laures wherever he
goes. McsSrS. Corwin Of Ohio, and More
head Of North Carolina were both poor EVA
CON boys" and SIC now distinguished speak
crs, and candidates for the Office Of Governor
in their respective states, with every prospect
OF success, occupying large space III the pub
lie eye, confidence, and admiration Henry
Clay was a poor boy, born and raised in the
slashes Uf Hauovcr--and what is he now
acl, rcdlC .l,s Gret rr,4c1 ,nd e,s.eer,,,.