The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-03-13
For the Standard.
THE STUDENT OF NATURE.

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Tho broad expanse of Nature ever present:
new beauties to charm and crafty the taste
new fields Of science, research and enjoyment
and fresh instruction to improve and elevate
the mind. To the student Of Nature nothing
is created in vain, contemplated by tho light
of his understanding, the minutest ins oct which
is hourly trodden into tho earth, has assigned
to il by its Maker fit and proper avocation in
filling up the grand harmony of creation, and
not sparkling dewdrop, or aquivering fores,
leaf but has embodied within itself an impor-
tont lesson to the human mind-the duties and
destiny of man. In the daily rising of tho sun,
its journey through the heavens, now obscured
by clouds and storms, and now bursting into
sunshine, and, at its appointed time sinking
behind the western horizon, he secs portrayed
before his mind the birth of man irto the
world, HE onward course through tho alternate
Affections and gladstone prospects of life, and
ultimately hushed to the sleep that knows no
earthly waking. To his ear the hum of tho
bee, the carroling of birds, the dash of the wa
ter-fall, the murmuring of tho mountain rill,
and the sighing of the wind through the forest
boughs, blenching together in wild harmony,
form part of an unwritten music in Nature
In tho CLASSY ripple, upon the silent he sees
exhibited the workings of the same Invisible
power that gives impulse to tho mighty swell
of the ocean, From tho creeping plant that
hides itself beneath tho lowly foliage of the
valley, to tho hardy Pine which lifts its storm
bravng head to the wintry blasts of the noun
tain side not n tree, a shrub, or flower upon
which his eye does not trace the infinite skill
and far reaching forethought of wonder
working God. From the unyioldng granite
rock which rearsits tempest beaten brow to
the clouds, to the pebble washed by the sea-
wave, or the goIu giIrtcrIg III tho ui'no, ,nv, .
is nought in tho mineral creation upon which
he does not perceive the indelible impress of
First Great Cause.
Nothing in the laws and changes that govern
and affect tho material and otherial universe,
arouses the thoughts of the true lovera stu
dent of Nature, to loftier conceptions of tho
sublmity and grandeur of the Almighty's pow
er than the inspiring scene of the elements
commotion, when tho demon of the storm
bursts with appalling fury upon the world,
when the binching lightning flashes FORTH re-
vcaling its lurid outline against tho inky black
ness of hoavcn, when the voice Of God as heard
in the crashing thunder speaks in dread ech-
oes to the awe stricken heart Of man, and tho
sweeping hurricane released from its letters,
thunders over mountain and forost rendihg
with its iron strength the tI,assive bough from
It's parent steu', crushing before II with resist
less force the monarch of the W Ids to the dust,
ruin, and leaving behind in its terrific train the
terrible fruits of its power, death and destruc-
tion to tho lives and property of men, and in
tho scene of beautiful subhmty. after the tenn
pest has passed away, tho earth clad in the
livery ofmidsummer, the songstors Of the air
warblng their notes of joyous gladness, the
departing orb of day sinking into sea of gol-
den splendor, tinging the pendant rain-drop
with its pnrplo beams and bathing the hill-tops
and forest foliage in flood of crimson light,
and the gorgeously colored rainbow stretched
athrawt the heavens by the Almighty's hand,
q token of the unbroken promise of Gods first
covenant with man. tits then that his wonder
lit soul kindled to hallowed flame by the in
spring raptures of the scene bids adieu to earth
and borno on the wings of lofty Imagination
far beyond tho utmost strength of tho finite
vision, foars higher and higher through the
ethereal vaults of upper spheres, until it stands
in the presence of the great Am, and beholds
the form Of that being, which no mortal eye
can look upon and live, and is lost in unutter-
able wonder and astonishment at the indescri-
bablo glory ard brightness which emenates
from the throne of the Eternal. EFF.
Jefferson, Feb. 9th, 1855