The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-07-28
MORALTZING ON CLOUDS.

We marked few days since FOR publication, lit
tie anecdote, which struck US as worthy Of remem-
brance. We have misIad the paper, and forgotten
the Names but it something like the following
lady went TO some benevolent gentleman 10
i,ct IN important favor for little child, The favor
was promptly granted. 81 will go home,' said tho
lady, "and when the child gets large enough, will
teach him to thank you for your kindness"
''I am but the cloud " said the Doctor, 'thn gives
the shower; let him thank the Being above the clouds
that gives the means.''
That is the story, with the omission Of names, and
the probable loss Of good deal Of grace in the
tive. But il struck that the good doctor had been
eminently feIicous in his choice Of illustration. The
good gifts that d-heured men bestow, come down
upon the recipents with freshness and benefcence,
like the outpouring Of the summer cloud upon the
parched earth We look upward, and bless the well
stored magazine whence descend the means Of de-
light and the cause Of our gratitude. There is pow
er, however, beyond that gathers into tho grainar
les o,he Skies the harvest Of moisture that the earth
sends up. and in His own time, scompells' the
clouds that they give back their treasures We mark
not this mark not the mighty ''hand'' that works
these wonders, but gaze upwards, the vehicle
of the blessings dms sight, and shOrtens
vey, and thank the cloud, because see it; and
forget the power beyond, the power whose intercept
ed light makes gorgeous the upper surface of the
storm chariot, and whose absence, orwhose presence
unapparent gives darkness, like the shadow Of DEATH
TO that plary cloud whence descends the blessing,
But the good man, the man of liberal heart and
open hand is indeed like the cloud that sends down
the former and the latter rain, that gives here and
there the shower that nvgorates, cheers aud nurish-
es. lie feels the warmth above him, and owns he
influence by the transmission Of his supplied store
lie goes and gives out Of his MEANS TO cheer the des
Olate aud the furnished, and returns TO tho fruits
orhis benefits 20 others, the clouds after the rain
BountfuI, rich and abundantIy useful, ia the Of
open hand who like the summer cloud, sud
denly, and gives when most needed comes in the
warmth Of day, comes without chill, comes with
out token of preparation and gives down the means
Of good without fnFesounding Of words, and with
out the evidences Of inability retain blessings in tho
gift and in the manner, going forth with evidence
Of exhaustion passing onward as if continue the
blessing to thousands living and helping to live.
The clouds that gather with the east wind, that
thickcnng up the sky that darken for days be-
fore they rain and 10 have their contents shak-
en- by the violence Of the gale and the chls which
it imparts clouds that chill all beneath them, and
make the horbage look wnter-like, it takes almost
reluctantly and thunkessy the descending storm
clouds that wasted by the moisture they exude-
they, too, like the giving man, like the who has
treasured up the savings of hard life; and when
they longer be retained for himself when they
must cease to he his then with signs at the separa-
tion ofsoul and body, that is, money and himself.
with the sound oftrumpets, to make virtue OF nec-
essity, be'pours down upon others without single
warming smile OF true benevolence, all that he has
and all that he is. He benefit sprnging from
his last sacrifice, and there is expression of graft
tuds for the which he has given that which
he could not retain.
When the summer cloud that has poured out it's
bounes upon the grateful earth passes on the pleas
ure which i: has given is doubled by the hope which
it imparts, that it will renew its blessing We see in
the distance the bow Of promise ,gemmng its exhaust
less skirts, and the blessings which it has given TO
Others becomes the means of hope to US. So the
Of habitual benevolence gives assurance to the
afflicted ones that his hand is be stad by the
continuance of his active goodness to the sufferers
and, change the figures, are, by his attention
TO them, assured of renewal of his goodness to u.s.
just the hour cry of the distant watchman lets
know that in turn safety shall be provided for
- United States Gazette.