Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-06-30

greater than the primary. In some Is
increased by an increase in knowledge, and
improved by careful observation and ire
Quent exercise of the judgement and under
standing. In others it is stinted and distor-
ted by a sordid, calculating, unitarian splr-
it, and by the operations of narrow-mlnded
sel6shness. And in others still, it may, per-
haps, in time, he forever blasted by the pes
tiferous breezes of vice and immortality
But those who voluntarily pursue the latter
course, can scarcely be sensible OF their fol-
ly. For in the possession and exercise OF a
highly cultivated and rightly directed taste
are TO be found some of the purest, highest,
and hottest enioyments Of which the mind of
man is susceptible, And nowhere else can
be found a field for the enjoyment of it, so
spacious, so delightful, and so well furnished,
as in the wisdom, works and wonders of
creation pity the man who does not love
to
AGO forth, under the open sky and list
Tonatures teachings while from all around,
Earth and her waters and the depths of air,
Comes a still voice.
The only visible medium of communion
ton between external nature and the soul of
man, is, indeed, by way ofthe senses And
vet, is it not something more than mere
fight of the Imagination, or vain conjecture,
to suppose that the same invisible hand that
created and fashioned each of these, may
also have ordained, between them, certain
secret and mysterious connecton,--a genu-
inc sympathy, too subtle for our obtuse dis
cernment and too complicated for our inn
perfect powers Of description!
The language of nature is uniform and in
telligible-always the same in all ages-al-
ways understood by all people. For men OF
one age or nation to comprehend the views
and sentiments Of another, is often difficult,
so different are their signs of ideas and forms
of thought. Even the most perfect transla-
ton fails to present us all the force and beau
ty of the original. Not so with the book OF
Nature lie who inspired her pages with
truths so immutabe, eternal and universal
in their application, gave her also such a
spirit of utterance that she is able to CON-
mune Of them with every man in his own
tongue wherein he was born.
Nature, too, is true and faithful, copying
| in this, the character of Him who gave her
being, and putting to the blush mary who
boast of intelligence and reason. She knows
not to play the hypocrite, the traitor, MOI
the coquette. She assumes no false garb
dresses in her own livery. She invites, moi
to reject ilatters, not to beguile; and never
promises, but to fulfil Confidence reposed
in her is not misplaced and hopes, cher
shed in accordance with her encouragement
will never be destroyed, nor disappointed.
But the sentiments aud lessons that The
powers of nature are employed to communI
cate and enforce, must not be passed over
All her operations and exhibitions are full o
instruction. The richest and proudes
prince, though he equal Solomon in all hi
glory, would do well TO consider the lilies o
the field, and learn or them lesson Of frail
ty and humility. The ceaseless and unit
ring bee, whose art and instinct enables 1t t
gather the sweetest and richest portion o
the flower without injurng lis structure o
furnishing its beauty, teaches the idle les
son of industry the foolish of wisdom, ant
the cheat and covetons, a lesson of limo
cence and honesty. The humble flower
budding, blossoming, fading, falling, almos
in single day, admonishes the gay, tn
beautiful and the bloomng-al who ador
the casket and neglect the gem,--pursu
vanity and squander time-of their fatal fol
ly and speedy end Well may the stronge.
among the sons of Adam, and the fairest Z
mong the daughters of Eve, in the departn
, glory and fading beauty of the rose, behol
, their own weakness, and be wise.
And its own peculiar and appropriate les
son and pleasure is brought by each hour
the swiftly revolving day How delightft
to wander out at early dawn, and listen I
the morning madrigas of the shady cops
when every qnlrlster seems TO say,
"'The hand that made us is divine"
= How sweet the perfume on every breez
, from every field and how beautiful the 81
very base and rain-bow-tint of every pender
\ dew drop, when the glad sun breaks Joyful
. ly from among the eastern hills. | love ii
4 morning air And | love to climb the era!
!, ged mountain, and there, on some towerin
!. moss-coyered-cliff with naught but a hug
g fragment of granite or gneiss, all rough an
O unpublished as il is, for my seat where thei
: is no work of art, or trace of man, save hel
i and there a rude hieroglyphc or unknow
$ initial, imperfectly carved, high on the rock
/ where the atmosphere is pure, aud Il
> breeze of the zephyr cool and refreshing
and where the wild bird makes her mes
e rears her young, and sings her song unharr
d ed by the hard-hearted truant; from tn
IF proud summit, | love to gaze on the bo
II promontory, the rocky precipice. the wild
d spread and variegated landscape; on Il
= modest ravne that stretches itself bat
O among the hills for shelter and protection
,r on the woodland slope and shady grove al
on all the fields Of waving grass and grain
l. And when the voice of music in the gro
a. is hushed by the heat of the midday SUI
le when the patient OK stands Illuminating
lie the eddy of the cooling brook. and when Il