Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-08-24
Beautiful Illustration

Rev. Mr.. Willets, of Philadelphia, in illus
trating the blessedness of cultiVating a liber-
al spirit, uses this figure:
'See,' he says, that little fountain yonder
away, yonder in the distant mountain,
shining like a thread OF silver through the
thick oeps4. and sparkling like Il diamond in
its healthful activity. 1t is hurrying on with
tinkling feet to bear its tribute to the river.
See, it passes a s~tagnant pool, and the pool,
halls it whittier away, master stream ct 2
L am going to the river to bear this cup
Of water God has given me- tAh, you are
very foolish for th&t-yOu7llneed itbefore the
summers over. 1t has been Il backward
spring, and we shall have a hot summer TO
pay for it-you will dry Hp then.'-'Wen,'
said the streamet, IF an to die SO soon, I
had better york while life lasts. If aim
likely to lose this treasure from the heat, I
had better do good with it while / nave IT.
So on it went, blessing and rejoicing in its
eoarse.-Tbe pool snailed eoanplacentfy at It's
own superior foresight, huslanded all Its re-
sources, letting not a drop steal away. Soon
the midsummer heat came Down, and it fell
upon the little stream. Bat the trees crow
ded to its brink and threE out their shelter
ing branches over 1t in the day ofadversity,
for T6 brougat TcfreshRneAt and life to them
.hN OhO u rCOPNO AIOuSA Inv u $sSeSs
smiled complacently ap0n ats dimpled 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
breathed their perfume upon its Lesom; the
beasts of the field loved to finger near It's
banks, the husbandman's eye always spark
led with Joy, as he looked &Tson the line of
veF1ant beauty that4naqke ed DISCOURSE thFoagsa
his fields and meadows; and SO ON it went,
blessing and blessed af ALL
And sThere was the prudent pool? Alas
| in its ingloriousinactivity, it grew sickly and
: pestiiential. The beasts Of the field puIsheir
t lips to it, but turned away without drinking
the breeze stopped and KISSED it by missaEe
/ bat 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 has
the very frogs cast their vonom upon the
e pool and deserted it, and heaven in raerey
n to man smote it with u hotter breath anc
r dried it up.
But dad not tho little stream exhaust 1T
e self? Oh, no! God snNy TO that it emptiee
d its full cup in the river, and the river bore /
e ON to the sea, and the sea welcomed it, a&t
g the san smiled upon the sea, and the sea sen
up Its incense to greet the sun, and the lOWd
y caught in their capaeions bosoms the inGeMs
d from the sea, and the Winds, like wngtini
: &teeds, caught the clsariots of the clouds an
d bone them away-away to the mOuntainsha
gave the little fountain birth, and, there the,
r tipped the bFimming cup, and poured ID
* grateful baptism down; and SO God saw {
< it, that the little fountain, though it gave $
fully and so freely, never ran dry. And
God so bless the fountain, will hc not bles
:; you, my friends, if as ye have freely rece
IS. we'd, We also freely givel Be assured