The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-01-01
LIVE NOT TO YOURSELF.
BY REV. JOHN TODD.

BY REV. JOHN TODD.
On the frail stem in the garden hangs the
opening rose Go ask why it hangs there! ~
hang there" says the beautiful flower, to sweet
en- the air which man breathes, to open my beau
ties to kndle emotion in his eye, to show him the
hand Of his God, who penciled each leaf and laid
them on my bosom. And whether you find me
here to greet him every morning, or whether you
find me on the lone mountain side, with the bare
possibility that he will throw me one parting
glance, my end is the same i live not to my
self" t.t p' a.fi4 IA fiG 's9
Beside yon highway stands an aged tree, so-
tary and alone. You see no living thing near il,
and you say surely that must stand for itself
alone. "No," says the tree, "God never made
me for a purpose SO small. For more than hum
dred years | have stood here. In summer have
spread out my arms and sheltered the painting
fiocks which FASTENED to my side. In my bosom
have concealed and protected the brood Of young
birds as they lay and rocked in their nest; in the
storm have more than once received in my body
The lightning's bolt, which had else destroyed the
traveller; the acorns which have matured from
year to year have been carried far and near, and
groves of forest oaks can claim me as their pa
rent. have lived for the eagle which has perchcd
on my top-for the humming bird.that has paused
and refreshed its giddy wing, ere it danced away
again like blossom Of the air--for the insect
bark and when can stand no longer shall
fall by the hand of man, and shall 60 to strength
en- the ship which makes him lord Of the ocean,
and to his dwelling to warm his hearth and cheer
his home | live not to myself"
On Wonder mountain side comes down the sill
yer brook, in the distance resembling the ribbon
of silver, running and leaping as it dashes joy
ously and fearessly down. Go ask the leaper
what il is doing. II was born," says the brook,
~, h,,ff H.
good, and so am hurrying down, running where
/ cam and leapng where must, but Fastening
down to water the sweet valley, where the thirsty
cattle may drink-where the lark may sing on
my margn-where may drive the mill for the
accommodation of man, and then widen into the
great river, and bear up his steamboats, and ship
ping, and finally plunge into the ocean, 10 rise
again in vapor, and perhaps come back again in
the cloud to my own native mountain, and live
my short lite over again. Not drop Of water
comes down my channel in whose bright face
you may not read, None Of US live to HIMSELF =
Speak now to that solitary star that hangs in
the very verge of heaven, and ask tho bright
sparkler what it is doing there Its voice comes
down the path of light, and cries-"I am a
mighty world. | was stationed here at the crea-
ton. | was among the morning stars that sang
together, and among the sons Of God that shouted
for Joy, at the creation of the earth. Ave, was
there
When the radient morn of creation broke,
And the world in the smile Of God awoke,
And the empty realms Of darkness and death
Were moved through their depths by his mighty
breath, f I3t 1s5tssf. n, I
And the orbs Of beauty and spheres Of Aame 1
From the void abyss, by myriads came,
In the Joy of YOUTH as they darted away
Through the widening wastes Of space to play,
Their silver voices in chorus rung,
And this was the song the bright ones sung"
Here. among the morning stars, hold my
place, and help to keep other worlds balanced
and in their places. have oceans and mountains.
and support myriads Of immortal beings on my