Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-09-09


merly heard. and heard with a smile Of IN
credulity, allnsion TO the loves Of plants, and
the sublime discoveries Of Linneds concern.
ing vegetable generation. II was now his
pleasing task TO watch the gradual accom-
plishment Of maternity in Picciola; and
when, with his glass fixed on the slamens
and pistils OF the flower, he beheld them
suddenly endowed with scnsibiiiy and ac-
ton. the mind Of the scepIic became paral-
Used with wonder aud admiration BY an
illogical comparison, his perceptions rose
till they embraced the vast scale Of the veg
etable and animal creation lie recognised
with glance the mightness, the immensi-
~, The harmony Of the whole The mystic.
ries Of the universe seemed suddenly devel-
oped before him. Ills eyes grew dim with
emotion. 1.-The microscope escaped his hand
The atheist sinks back ovcrpowered on his
rustic bench, aud after nearly an hour Of
profound meditation. the following aposiro.
phe burst from the lips Of Charney
"Piecioiaf" said he, in tone Of deep
emotion, ~ had once the whole earth for
my wanderings,- was surrounded By
those who called themselves my friends,-
by men Of letters and science: and not one
OF The learned ever bestowed upon me az
much instruction as have received from
thee mot one Of the friendly ever render
ed INC such good Offices as thine In this
miserable courtyard, between she stones Of
whose rugged pavement thou hast sprung to
life, have reflected more, and experienced
more profound emotions. than while irayers-
log in freedom all the countries OF Europe.
Blind mortal that have been when first
| beheld thee, pale, feeble, Funy. | looked
on Thee with contempt And il was
companion that was vouchsafed 10 me,--a
book that was opened for my Instruction.
word that was revealing itself to my won
deriDg eyes THE COMPANION solaces my
daily ares,--attaching me to the existence
restored me by her aid, and reconcilinq
me with mankind whom had unfairly con-
demned- The HOOK teaches me TO despise
all works Of human invention, conviciine
my ignorance. and rebuking my pride; in
sirncting me that science, like virtue, is TO
be acquired though lowliness Of mind. In
scribed in the living characters Of tongue
50 long unknown TO me, il contains thou
sand enigmas Of which every solution is
word Of hope. The WORLD is the region Of
the soul, the abstract and criterion Of &C.
lestial and eternal nature ; the revelation OF
the organic law Of love, from which results
the order Of the universe, the gravitaiion Of
atoms. the attraction OF suns. and the cleo
trio union Of all created things, from the
highest star 10 the hyssop OIL the wall from
tho crawling insect 10 mau who walks the
earth with his brows elevated towards heav-
en--perhaps in search Of the onlnipoient
Author Of his beingr'
The breast Of Charney swelled with IT.
repFessble emotion as he spoke. Thought
succeeded thought in his brain; feeling az
ter feeling arose in bis heart till, starring
from his seat. he began to traverse The court
with hurried footsteps. At length, his agi-
tation exhausted, he returned towards his
Picciola, gazed upon her with ineilable ten
derness, raised his eyes to heaven, and faint
ly arieulated ,-"Oh mighty and unseen
Con 1.-The clouds oflearning have too much
confused my understanding the sophis-
tries Of human reason too much hardened
my heart, for thy divine truths TO penetrate
at once into my understanding. Ia my
unworihlness to comprehend thy glorious
revelations, can yet only call upon thy
name, and humbly seek thy infinite but in.
visible protection"
And with grave demeanour, Charney re-
iraced his Steps to his chamber there Tie
hrst sentence that met his eyes, inscribed
with his own hand upon The wall, VAS
"GoD is but word |"
In another moment he had superadded 10
the inscriptions "a word, which serves
perhaps to solve the grea, enigma Of crca-
ton r.
"PerkaPs"-the master word OF doubts,
still dishgure the phrase but il was some.
thing for the arrogant Charney to have ar
rived at doubt, from the extreme of absolute
nsgafion. He was recoiling in the path of
ialsehood he had so long pursued. He no
longer pretended to rely for support upon
his own sirength,-hi own faculties He
IS willing now to learn, eager to perpetuaie
the soa emotions by which his pride has
been subdued, and il is still 10 the insigniii-
cent Picciola he turns for instruction, for
a creed, "a GoD,--an Immortality.
[ro DE CONTINUED