American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-06-28
BEAUTIFUL EXTRACT.

DJA " liP Ob ia lGASI.
Rev. MIR. Willctts, of Philadelphia,
in an eloquent address a. the Anniver-
sary Of the Sunday School Union, a.
mong others, used the following beau
( tiful illustration Of the benefits of eA-
crsising benevolent spiri. So
"But, says one, if wo give SO much
we shall exhaust our resources. Don't
be afraid of that, my friend. See 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 activity. 1t is hurrying on
with tmkling feet to bear its tribute to
the river. See, it passes stagnant
pool, and the pool halls IL. Whittier
away, master streamlet? l am going
to the river to bear this cup of water
God has given nc. All, you arc very
foolish for that: you'll need it before
the summer is over. 1t has been q
backward spring, and we shall have a
hot summer to pay for it--you will dry
up then. Well, says tho streamlct, if
l am to die so soon, | had better work
while the day lasts. If 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 compla-
Gently at its own superior foresight.
and husbanded all its resources, letting
not a drop steal away. Soon the mid
summer heat came down, and it fell on
the little stream. But the trees stood
at its brink and threw out their shelter
ing branches ovcrit in the day of adj
versity, for it brought refreshmcnt and
life to them; and the sun pcepcd thro'
the branches, and smiled complacently
upon its dimpled face, and seemed to
say" 1t is not in my heart to harm
! you''-and the birds slipped its silver
! tide, and sung its praises; the flowers
brcathed their perfume upon its bosom:
/ tho beasts Of the field loved to linger
by its banks; the husbandman's eye
sparkled with joy as he looked upon
the line Of verdant beauty that marked
its course through the fields and mea-
dows-and so on it went, blessing and
blessed of all.
"And where was the prudent pool
Alas, in its inglorious activity, it grew
sickly and pcstlcntial. The beasts OF
the field put their lips to it, but turned
away without drinking; the breeze
stopped and kissed it by mistake, but
caught the malaria in the contact, and
carried the ague through the region,
and the inhabitants caught it, and had
to move away, & at last the very frogs
cast their venom upon it and deserted
it, and Heaven, in mercy to man, smotc
it with hotter breath, and dried it up
"But did not the little stream OK.
haust itself? Oh, no God saw to that
1t emptied 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 capacious looms the
incense from tho sea, and the winds
like waiting stccds, caught the chariots
of the clouds and bore them away
away--to tho very mountain that gave
the little fountain birth, and there they
tipped the Drumming cup, and poured
the grateful tribute down and so Goo
saw to it, that the little fountain, tho
it gave so fully and so freely, never
ran dry. And if God so blessed the
fountain, will he not also bless you, my
friends, if, cas- ye have freely received,
yo also freely give ? BE assured that
lie will. ''-A,thur's Magazine.