Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-05-18

"The shapings Of our heavens are the modi-
fcations of our constitution" said Charles Lamb
in his reply to Southey's attack upon him in the
Quarterly Review.
lie who is infinite in love as well as wisdom,
has revealed to us the fact of future life and
the fearfully important relation in whichthe pres
ent stands to it. The actual nature and condi-
tons of that life, he has hidden from us-no
chart of the ocean Of Eternity is given us--no
celestial guide book or geography Defines local
ICES, and prepares US for the wonders of the spir-
itua world Hence Imagination has wide field
for its speculatons, which, so long as they do not
positively contradict the revelation of the Scrip
lures, cannot be dlsapproved
We naturally enough transfer to our idea of
Heaven, whatever we love and reverence on
earth. Thither the Catholic carries in his fan
cy the imposing rites and time-honored solemni-
ties of his worship. There the Methodist sees
his loye-feasts and camp-meetings, in the groves
and by the still waters and green pastures of the
Blessed Abodes The Quaker, in the stiffness
Of his selEcommuning, remembers that there
was "siIence in Heaven" The churchman lis
tening to the solemn chant of vocal music, or
the deep tones of the organ, thinks ofthe song of
the Elders, and the golden harps of the New
Jerusalem.
The heaven of the Northern nations of Europe
was gross and sensual reflection of the earthly
life of barbarous and brutal people
The Indians of North America had vague
notion of Sunset Land-a beautiful Paradise
far in the West-mountains and forests filled
with deer and buifaIo-akes and streams swarm
ing with fshes-the happy hunting ground of
Souls In late letter from devoted missiona-
nv among the western Indians, paul Bloohm,
converted Jew,) we have noticed beautiful
illustration of this belief Near the Omahaw
mission-house, on high bluff, was a solitary In
dian grave. zone evening" says the Mission
ary, "having come home with some cattle, which
had been seeking, heard some one wailing,
and looking in the direction from whence it pro-
ceeded, found it to be from the grave near our
house. In monet after, the mourner got up
from kneeling or lying posture, and, turning
to the setting sum- he stretched forth his arms IN
prayer and suppcaton, with an intensity and
earnestness as though he would detan the SPLEEN
did umlnary from running his couse. With his
body leaning forward, and his arms stretched to-
wards the sun, he presented a most striking fig
ure of sorrow and petition. 1t was soemnly aw.
full. He seemed to me to be one of the ancients
come forth to teach me how to pray"
A venerable and worthy New England clergy
man, on his death-bed, just before the close o.
his life, declared that he was only conscious O.
an awfullv solemn and intense curiosity to know
the great secret of Death and Eternity.
The excellent Dr. Nelson, of Missouri, was
one who, while on earth, seemed to live another
and higher life in contemplation of Infinite Pu
rity and Happiness. A friend of ours once re
lated an incident concerning him, which made
deep impression upon our mind They haf
been travelling through summers forenoon, II
the prairie, and had lain down to rest beneath