Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-04-03

Many years ago an eminent naturalist.
travelling In South America, left the peas
ants cabin half way up the western slope
Of the.Andes. where he had passed the ear
ly hours Of the nightto ascend the noun
tain:onwhose lofty summit stands Quito, the
city Of thesun.
II was yet three hours before the dawn.
and thc.naturalist had left his couch At this
early hour.in order 10 reach his destination !
ere the heat Of monday. To visit this
city, whose lofty site enables II 10 over
look the clouds and embrace within lis vast
coup doll almost half continent. had
been tho fond dream Of his youth. and as
hebrew nearer TO It's fuldllment his onthu-
siasm could hardly be repressed. Il was
with elastic step and buoyant hope that he
started on his upward journey. but oil his
previous travel had not prepared him for
the obstacles he encountered: darkness
brooded over the vast forest through which
his pathway lay. aud II was now gigan-
tic trco which obstructed his path; or.ifhe
turned aside to avoid this. the parasitic Il
ami, extending from tree TO tree, arrested
his progress, or the dense cactus with its
hidoous thorns babe him seek a more fea-
sibe passage; anon; anon, his faithful staff
revealed that no was on the brink Of fear
ful chasm Of unknown depth. or he found
his steps arrested by some butting cliff
which lowered far up toward the sky. Al
times the sharp cry Of the jaguar. the
hoarsc scream Of the condor. or the purr-
ing breath Of the cougar, heard amid the
stiffness Of the forest startled him. and
gave rise TO tho wish that he had waited
for the dawn.
At length, wearied and wayworn, he
emerged from tho forest, he sat down up
on rock TO rest That portion OF the
way which he had already traversed had
been tollsome land painful; that which
was TO come was hazardous and dlscoura-
ging;stccp cliffs were to be scaled, rayines TO
be crossed, mountain torrents TO be forded;
and the urihod air, which had already
made his breathing laborious, would, as
no assembled. cause him still greater dis
tress; dlshcartened and dispirited, he was
almost ready TO rolnquish his undertaking,
whom, raising his eyes. he saw the golden
cross which surmountcd the dome Of the
cathedral Of Quito, gllstening with the
rays Of the rising sun; all below II was yet
In darkness; q full hour indeed must elapse
Gro light would visit his path; but he had
seen tho city Of his boyhood's dreams, H.
lumlnod by the sunlight. and dependency
and fatigue. He leaped up.and though he
had not over.estImatcd the dangers before
him, he paused not ill his feet had trod
tho streets Of tho city whose glitterIng
spires no had seen from afar.
Christian traveller, art thou called to
: pass through forest dark and gloomy, a
wilderness Astounding In snaros and pit
falls? Art thou hlndered In thine onward
progress by temptation and sin. thy way
INSTRUCTED by the butting cliffs OF error OF
the dense growth Of worldly careG Doth
tho adversary who goeth about as roar.
! ing lion, or wicked men who. like ravenins
wolves, would tear thee In pieces, terrify
thy soul Look upward the spires and
plnnacles Of the city Of God glow with
: aradiance far beyond the light Of the sun,
"for the Lord God giveth them light" Is
J not that glorious city thy home ? Hast
Q thou not ycarned to tread Its golden streets
D to enter Its blessed courts, ever since thou
!; becamst child OF God? Leap up, then
: and speed thee on thy way; though there
D are yet dangers to be met. difficulties TO b
: overcome, trials aud suflerngs TO DO endur'
b ed; though the enchanted ground, and The
black river Of death, lie between thee and
J It's glittering portals, yet fear not. thor
o shalt yet enter those gates, "for the ma
r tons of them which are saved shall wall
$ in tho light Of It,"