The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-08-09
Beautiful illustration.

Rev. Mr.. Willets, of Philadelphia, in illustra-
ting the blesscdncss Of cutivatmg liberal spirit,
uses this figure:
"See" he says, "that little fountain yonder-
away yonder in the distant mountain, shining
like thread of silver through the thick copse,
and sparkling like diamond in its healthful ac-
tivty. 1t is hurrying on with tinkling feet to
bear its tribute to the river. See, it passes a
stagnant pool, and the pool halls it: "Whither
away, master streamet!" 81 am going to the
river to bear this cup of water God has given
me-" "Ah, you are very foolish for that-you'll
need it before the summers over. 1t has been
backward spring, and we shall have a hot sum-
mer to pay for it-you will dry up them
SWELL" said the strcamlet, "if | am to die so
soon, had better work while the day lasts. If
I am likely to lose this treasure from the heat,
had better do good with it while have it." So
on it went, blessing and rejoicing in its course
The pool smiled complacently at its own superb
or foresight, and husbanded all its resources, let
ting not drop steal away. Soon the mid-sum-
mer heat came down, and it fell upon the little
stream. But the trees crowded to its brink and
threw out their sheltering branches over it in the
day Of adversely, for it brought rcfreshment and
life to them and the sun peeped through the
branches and smiled complacently upon its dim
pied face and seemed to say, ITS not in my
heart to harm you" And the birds slipped its
silver tide, and sung its praises the flowers
Lrcathed their perfume upon its bosom the
beasts Of the field loved to lipger near its banks;
the husbandmans eye always sparkled with joy,
as he looked upon the line Of ve'dant beauty that
marked its course through his fields and mead
ows; and so on it went, blessing and blessed of
all
"And where was the prudent poole Alas! in
its ingorious inactivity, it grew sickly and pes
tcntial The beasts Of the field put their lips
to it, but turned away without drinking; the
breeze stopped and kissed it by mistake, but
shrunk chilled away. 1t caught the malaria in
the contact, and carried the ague through the
region, and the inhabitants caught it and had
to move away; and at last the very frogs cast
their venom upon tlre pool and deserted it, and
heaven in mercy to man smotc it with a hotter
breath and dried it up!
"But did not the little stream exhaust itself?
Oh, no God saw to that; it cmptied its. full
cup into the river, and the river bore it on to the
sea, and the sea welcomed it, and the sun smiled
upon the sea, and the sea sent up its incense to
greet the sun, and the clouds caught in their ca
pacious bosoms the incense from the sea, and the
winds, like waiting stccds. caught the chariots of
the clouds and bore them away-away to The
mountain that gave the little fountain birth, and
there they tipped the trimming cup, and poured
the grateful baptism down ; and so God saw to
it, that the little fountain, though it gave so full
ly and 50 freely, never ran dry. And if God so
bless the fountain, will he not bless YOU, my
friends, if, "as We have freely received, yc also
freely givc!! BE assured he will"