Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-04-09
Spring and its Duties

voice of onward nature cannot be disre-
garded. Industry, activity, effort, are in
the most forcible terms demanded Of all.
How inviting the prospect, how rich the
proffered reward? and yet it is nO1C or not
at all! Let this season pass unimproved,
summer will in vain scatter its heat, its
light, It's due and its showers. There is
moral also in this which has a higher
bearng-a reference TO gains immortal
and utterably great, and to losses at once
Iruinous and beyond repair--the one OBJ
taincd by seasonable effort, the other in
cured by slOth and neglect.
But il is not our intention at present to
moralize. Ours is a more pleasing task.
We wish only to invite tothe contemplation
of nature 10 cultivate familiarity with her
resources, and lead to all appreciation Of
innocent and beautiful enjoyments.
A benevolent God has abundantly diff,
fused through the world that which is cal
culated to delight the eye and crafty the
taste. But in general we find germs only
of beauty and excellence, essential begin
ings, SO to speak, which under the skill,
the care and the industry of man might
expand and heighten into illimilable rich
ness of quality and unbounded profuslon.
As our Maker said to our first parents, so
does he say TO their children. Them he
iplaced in a garden in which was found ev-
cry thing that was beautiful to the eye
and good for food. Their duty was "lo
dress it and to keep it." The burden Of
that duty has never been removed from
their defendants The field is the world.
All are laborers in it--tenants under God.
Speaking by the voice Of nature be now
saws to each defendant of those first guar.
dians, tllers and dressers Of the soil, take
these plants, fruits and nowers--cultvate
them for me, and will give the thy wa
ges. To willing and obedient man, God
has always been true to his word. When
ever there has been skill, care and indus
ry, there have been beauty, richness and
abundance. Idleness and neglect on the
other hand have met their merited punish
ment. The field Of the slolhlul has al
ways had the same llkeness--that of drea-
ry waste and deSolaton. Each receives
the reward that is met.
1t is amazing to see what may be done
| by skill, industry and care, The hand OF
man then seems endued with creative
power. He is friend then 10 his spe
icics who leads to the acquisition ofknOw-
ledge, and the habits of dlligent and
careful cultivation Of the beautiful and the
rich in nature. How vastly different
would our world be, were the education
and the habits Of the whole family oIman
in these respects as they should be! And
how easy the charge? What child may
not water its flowers and cultivate It's
plants. And who can calculate the adj
vantages Of such training in children!--
What carefuness, what skill, WI at refine
ment of taste, what cheerfulness Of dlSpO-
stion, what health of body, what rlgor of
constitution, and with all, what desire
for usefulness would be thus acquired!
Were the play grounds of children tuII OF
the adorning of beauty, were the hands
taught to play the impliments ofindustry,
and there eyes every where greeted with
the abundant rewards of skill and culture,
idleness would no longer curse the earth,
exciting and corrupting amusements would
! be little sought, and crimes now common
would be few. TO say nothing then OF
the vastly increased comfort, and haPPi-
ness which every family might at iltlle
cost secure to themselves by proper cuI-
tivation of choice fruits, plants and flow
Iers-and that on the waste grounds, a
round them in all this country, such
course of life cannot be TOO highly COM
mended even in moral point OF view.
II is a matter Of thankfuIness that hortcut"
,ural associations are springrlng up among
ms. Let their number be inceased Il hun
dred fold. These will dffuse knowledge
and furnish choice specimens OF all natu-
raj products for the benefit OF the masses.
But we would not wait for these remote
results. Now that the spring has come,
and all nature invites to the gardens ana
the orchards, let man and boy, mald and
matron, look after Uhat they mare. IL
is not so much rare specimens, as proper
culture that is wanting. While the new
seed is planted, let the old tree be Pruned
the neglected plant have the earth made
loose and rich around it. Let neIghbor
askneighbor, let diffusion be the prIn-
cinle. "culture and care" the watchwords,
and soon shall we see many barren
waste changed into an Eden, many a
coun,enance now sad and sallow, then
bright with health and cheerfuIness'
many comfort of life smiling on the now
lean table," and many yoSih made
useful. good, and great for whom ruin is
Sc ting its snare. With soil SO genlal
and Climate so delightful as ours there
is no reason why perfection and Proiusion
in all that is beautiful and useful in nature
Sbnnld not be exhibited, here enjoyed,