Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-08-06
SELF RELIANCE.

have seen delicate shrub whose beauty
attracted the admiration of passers by. 1t re-
clned gracefully upon the lattice, where shield
ed from the blasts Of rude winds it might re-
ceive the genial rays of the summers sun. It
was beautiful-its fragrance filled the air with
sweet perfume, and time passed on and revis-
tied this bower; but, Oh how changed the cold
breath of untimely frost and the unmerciful blast
of sudden tempests had shrouded it with sudden
mourning and laid it low on the earth.
Perhaps thought |, if the beautiful plant had
been early exposed to changes of temperature
and subsequently received more wind and few
er supports it might have withstood even this.
Thus musing, passed on until found myself
beneath the ample umbrage of wide-spreading
forest tree which stood alone inan exposed field.
Oft had it been rocked and menanced by sweep
ing winds, but these rude assaults only caused
its roots to strike deeper and wider for support.
1t was a noble tree, and could not help con-
trasting its proud appearance with those which
occupied sheltered situations in the neighborng
wood. Nature is the universal teacher, and the
instruction she yields her votaries are capable
of producing moral impressions more powerful
and vivid than any other, and as fingered, the
playful leaves seemed to whisper, Self reliance,
self reliance" seek, cherish, practice it-and
then beneath the warm sunshine of fortune, or
midst the conflicting elements of passion, dis
cord and misfortune, thou wilt be alike immova-
BILE. Self reliance is not bigoted assumption
of gifts which we have never received, but due
respect to our own judgment in preference to
an undue dependence upon that Of others; hence
it is one Of the nobest exercises of soul, and
the happy few who possess it are alike removed
from pride and dependence and occupy a bliss
full medium between the two where all the vir-
tues cluster A person who possesses the OPP
posite spirit will probably never arrive at emf
nence in any pursuit, being retarded in his
course by asking this ones advice and that ones
opinion, trying sometimes one method and some
times another, he fails to reach the high place
which that talent might have won for him had it
been accompanied by self reliance He looks
at all his own performances with distrust, fears
to commit himself, amid conflicting opinions
knows not which to adopt, and the soul gifted
with reason, parrot like, is content to echo the
thoughts of other men. This dependant spirit
is often the fault of training in childhood
Wishing his child to be obliging and submissive,
the parent brings him up to dstrust too much
his own judgment-his school days are one con-
tinued scene Of indecision and indefinite conclu-
sions, and he enters upon life, not to add new
discoveries to science,or rectify false sentiments
but to yield heartless assent to prevailing the
cries.
And here allow me to say that we ladies are
quite deficient in the exercise of this virtue; we
think it not only easy but pretty for us to float
with the current-reckless of consequences
Surely it will not do for us to exercise our fee
BILE reason, and perhaps, moreover no one of the
brotherhood of man would ever dare to link his
destiny with ours least we should become hope
less termagants. If we were accustomed to
think and decide for ourselves in matters Of inn
portance, we should have less leisure to medit-
ate seriously on ribbons and other splendid gew-
gaws nor would our fathers and brothers think
us less amiable and refined than formerly.
care not how rich, how talented, how fortu.
nate one may be, if he fails to cultivate self re.
lance, he must inevitably become the dupe Of
other mems opinions, the slave of circumstances
and the heir of irretrievable losses. That indi-
vidual who exercises his own reason and draws
his own conclusions, stands as steadfast in the
war of intellect as the giant tree in hurricane
or as the tall mountain top which eevates its
summit-and amid sunshine, looks down on the
tempest below. Literary Miscellany.
MACHINERY VS.. MANUAL LABoR.-A late mum.
Der of the Scientific American contains some in
teresting particulars with regard to machinery
for manufacturing garments. In New York city