Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-08-20
RURAL INTELLECT


OF true goodness, vigorous common sense, clear
ness OF thought and reason, honest simplicity
and practical wisdom. These men of the bench.
the shop, the field, see through the idea from
end to end, as it were intuitively; they bring
out its pith, and though unable to cothe their
ideas in scholastic or philosophic phrase, readi-
ly cut the Gordian knot of almost any difficult
question. He finds no hearers that so closely
scrutinize, or SO honestly expose his errors, his
concealed heresy and false statements. He al
most fears to quote the Bible, lest they, being
perfectly familiar with its contents. should find
cause to accuse him of false quotation. Few
pastors, however well versed in the intrcacies
of theological debate, Biblical criticism, or the
art Of sermonizing, can compare with many of
our rural laymen in familiar knowledge of the
language and plain sentiments of the Scriptures.
Few Of the books with which our cities and
large towns are flooded find their way to the
remote dwellings of the rural districts the peo
| pie have but little time to read, and less money
with which to make the purchase hence, du-
ring their brief hours of evening and leisure,
they peruse few chapters of the Bible, and d.
gest their sentiments in the midst of the manu.
al tolls Of the day. They educate the mind in
following the plough, or telling the Forest
They think, they argue, and grow wise. Amid
the vast store Of the learned mans ideas, how
few are really his own--have sprung from his
own bosom When he has written out his book,
or prepared his lecture, how few of the senti-
ments are original; the most have been plagiar-
lied from other men. But the countryman hires
no man to think for him his few, and some
may think meagre ideas, are warmly cherished
by him because they are the legitimate children
Of his own brain.
Hence the difficulty Of corrupting the coun-
try. Long after the torches were extinguished
in the cathedrals of Rome and Constantinoplc,
a pure and radient piety illuminated the back
places, and gladdened many secluded hearth
and altar around which the gowned bishop new
er pronounced his benediction. When the dark
ages shut in upon the world, the light gradual
ly receded from the cities, and grew increasing
ly fainter, as it fingered about the glens and
forests of the mountains, till the ethereal flame
vanished from human sight The departing
rays fingered and played upon the SUBMITS and
dark ravines of the Alps peoped by the immor-
tai Vaudois.
Among us error plants itself within the walls
and unfurls its banners upon the battlements of
our cities, long before it can claim single con-
vert in the secluded districts. Hence, too, tho
rustic boys obtain the pre.eminence. Hosts of
them, shoudering their packs, early migrate to
the marts of trade and the seats of influence and
power. They bear with them the excellent
qualities we have above described; thew begin
with caution, self-reliance and industry, which
insure complete success in business; and in
future years how greatly have they become no.
ted, and how many of the city born have they
displaced? See how your rustic boy, who came
to the city a few years since, attired in cotton
breeches straw hat, and cowhide shoes, has come
into the trading house Of your rich merchants
son yonder. See another beardless country
youth pressing his way to your courts, judicial
honors, and political notoriety. See how still
another steps in and takes the place made ready
for the trained statesman or the schooled polti.
clan.
The mountain streams wash down these un-
cut diamonds-these golden sands-and deposit
along the shores of the ocean their priceless gilt
tering treasure. The mountains produce the
men-the giants.
There is little Vermont saddled aside the
crags and peaks of mountain, and remarkable
only for its rude winters, brief summers and
ruddy boys that grow to be giants-our
Wrights, and SHADES, our Olins and Fisks-
New Hampshire has, too, some that now con-
tend for the highest honors of the country, and
a host of others that make their mark on the age
Let the rural boy, then prize his quiet home,
and recollect that this earth has no quiet green
place that ought to be so dear to him as the lit
tie sward patch among the rock that bears this
endearing name. Let him not covet the pleas
ures of the city; it has none like his. There he
will find no green meadows, and fish ponds, and
hunting grounds, no blazing hearth fire of the
winter evening; but instead, thereof, host of
miseries and temptations and vices that drown
the young in infamy and perdition.
; FORGIvENEss.-My heart was heavy, for its
trust had been abused, its kindness answered by
foul wrong; so turning gloomily from my fell
low men one Sabbath day, strolled along the
green mounds of the village burial place; here
was reminded how all human lore and hate
find one sad level, and how sooner or later, the
wronged and the wrong doer, each with mock
ed face and cold hands folded over still heart,
pass the green threshold Of a common grave,
whittier all footsteps tend-whence none depart
|, Awed for myself and plying my race, one COM
mon sorrow, like mighty wave, swept all my
pride away, and trembling forgave
) Whittier.
The following remarks are local everywhere
and apply with such force to parents, that we
cheerfully subjoin them:
IF you would keep pure the heart of your
child, and make his youth innocent and happy,
surround him with objects of interest and beau