The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-16

hs 1 sa' Win my eyes on the ground, no.
tlced lump OF clay at my feet, behaving very
strangely first, il rolled over and over, then
1t poised itself en- one corner, then, as looked
more closely, could sec it begin TO change it's
FORM, and to look every instant more Ike a
man and IN about two minutes from tie time
when ] noticed it first, saw a most perfect
aud beautiful little gentleman, in a green vel
vet hunting dress and cap, and round his waist
a sash of delicate ribbon grass, and in his
hand short stiff blade of wheat. which he
ftourished as a sword.
And when looked at his cap more closely,
1t wac not velvet but the softest short green
moos, with fern leaf for plume and gem
med at the looping with dew.drop, from
which flashed the seven colors of the sun
he stepped up to me 10 hopping, birdlike
way, and asked my trouble | showed him my
flowers; told him liked them, and wanted
10 know them, but the suspicious things would
shut up their hearts, and wanted to see in |
side.
hen tins ourious bird-man laughed
waTDhng little laugh and stepped from under
the trees, and soon came back with something
40 ms hand 1t was one slender sunbeam he
hein y hAe wand, and with the hp he
touched ensrpf those large, thick, white buds
and the bud quiyered ht,ls, tnap blushed and
seemed TO grew ~ alive, and il asaat )" -
sun like VINE and A+sd lass - 'ne
heart and ~ iA- ~ leaf from us
! .;i' 80 80 wnlle blushed more gOriously,
.. a., last not a leaf was curled, from the sur
face to the very core.
And looked and wondered and thought
how beautiful it was, but was not satisfied
and the little Earth-man was troubled for
still said, as before, " / want to see inside
When he had thought moment he said,
81 will show thee other things"
He hoped before me from stone to stone,
through the bed of the streaA and the way
grew narrow, the boughs closed in upon us,
and il was almost az dark as night, although
outside the air was still on fire with the set
ting sun.
Soon we heard u rushing and came to a
place where water was falling; it fell so deeF
and came from so high that it seemed as If Q
river was being turned on end. We stopped
to look up at this dark and dreadful falling
river and as we stood, the great red sun forced
his way through the gloom, and hung rain
bow across the rocks from side to side, and II
was solemn and beautiful but still the little
Earth-man was troubled, for was not salts
fed wanted to see inside.
After he had thought while he left me- and
saw him 90 to a well-spring of the clearest
water and scoop out some with his hand. AS
| saw his hand in the water, it looked like an
autumn leaf; directly az ain il was hand and
the water it held chung together and grew
hard as an icicle and brighter than a star
He carried this as he had the sunbeam, lightly
in his fingers, and held it over the dreadful din
of the waters Then all that black and head
long ocean shuddered and heaved back, and
| ,In.x II not
done speaking-and was afraid.
But soon my heart grew brave again, and fol.
lowed the Earth man under the rocks behind
that ice.dead ocean there we found awful and
beautiful things such as no mortal eye had
seen before and looked at all, and thought
how wonderful it was. but still my heart was
not contented-I wanted to see inside.
The good little Earth. man was puzzled, but
soon he said, as before, Z" will show thee other
things He led me from the clammy, chilly
caverns, past the falls past the forest into the
: sunset warmth outside. We took sheep path
, across clover field, and soon we lifted the
= latch of little white gate that let us into the
, cottage An old woman sat on the door sill
: half outside, to catch the last daylight; sh
y had a book in her lap, large old book, witt
I, strange figures carved on the heavy covers; an
when we came, she shut and fastened it with
u clasp.
J. "Wouldst see the book 90 said the Earth
: man and sat on the doorstep at the old vi
, mans knee, and she let me turn it over in he
J. lap. But still my heart would not be pleased
crept quite close TO the old woman, looking
}, up under her spectacles, and said, I" | want Il
= see inside"
o She smiled and opened the clasps oh, tina
(, was q splendid volume! full Of bright painted
;, letters and down the sides all sorts of colorcc
beasts and flowers and flying birds and snakes
IS and mems heads and rainbows.
"Now the child is satisfied p said the goot
q little Earth-man, all smiling Bns no my discon
tented heart wouM keep up that Old ecag-"
don't understand it; ! can't read the words,
s, haven't seen inside,
Then the Earth-man fell into rage, ant
: vowing be would never attempt to please @
mortal again, he babe me an angry farewell
. AS | watched him, his hands were turned
again to dry brown leaves his hair was beard
; moss, his face was clay and when in mo-
ment he stumbled and lay on the ground, be
, was only heap Of earth, and moss, and stone
sat on the door sill with my book on my
lap and while ! thought the laughing skier
grew serious, the sun turned his head, and night
orept softly out to the edge of the forest no one
saw nm Dut the stars abd i.
; As sat in the dark, thore came thrilling
! in the Dir, and | felt presence around me
but nothing appeared ] knew there was an
.. angel, and felt that must see it 80 prayed
10 God said, "Our father who art in heaven
put some holy thoughts in thy little girPs
heart, that she may see thy angel; amen.'
When minute was over, the thought came
down from heaven and filled my heart, and
| IA ID a.
voice said my child"
] was not afraid, but gave him the old true
answer; 81 want to see inside"
Then | looked at the angel steadily, my
eyes drank in the light from bis and when
looked again at the book on my knee, could
understand its meaning.
It told that all the wonders had seen were
made by one being it said that he created
men and women and children, and the little
birds, and every beautiful living thing il said
that he meant us all to be happy; it said, suf.
fer little children 10 come unto me y il said
God is Love-
And after ] had understood the words, il
seemed that everything around me, the twilight
and the birds last twistering, and the air
breathed, kept whispering us If they loved to
repeat it forever, his love, his love"
looked Mt one OF my strange white buds
and read in its heart that God had stopped
himself in making new world, to think out
this new flower for his children on the earth
saw how he speaks his great word, love,
in all different forms and colors--n the rain.
drops, in the grapes, in the corn, in the roses
saw how he has taught us 10 resent no evil
one lesson only the all-wse Earth refuses 10
learn OF man for when he pours into her DO.
som his daily proofs Of violence and death, she
receives them, and ponders them, and sends
back her daily answer in flowers
saw how 10 many wise and learned men
have studied, and argued, and preached, and