The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-04-22
Spring.

and to feel the strong pulsations of her heart
are permitted to but few. Man is endowed
with double sigh',-a physical, BY which he
is made acquainted with material thinss--a
spiritual by which he is conducted from the
seen 10 the unseen, and introduced TO that su-
perior life into that inner sanctuary, where
light and beauty. love and JOY awake the soul
10 rapture. The eye of the body acts by the
light of the sun, but the vision Of the spirit is
produced by the light of the soul. The FORM
er is perfect in infancy and grows DINNER as
the years roll round but the latter, though
perfect in it's endowment, depends upon the
conduct of man for the clearness and expah-
sion Of it's vision. He who reaches upward
toward the True and the Good, will not only
behold creation spread out before him, with
all her objects of varied qualities, but he will
also discover the informal and profound mean
ing of everything around. which the unaspir-
ing repard as dead matter. For the develop
ment Of this spiritual perception, the world is
filled with an infinitude of diversified beauty
adapted to all capacities, to all natural tastes.
and presenting frequent chsnge of scene
The ocean of solemn grandeur, the rivers, the
cataracts, and the murmuring of brooks-the
lofty mountains, the ragged cliffs, the gentle
nndulations, and the level plains--the fish of
.he sea- the fowls of the air, an! the beasts OF
the field--the monarch of the forest, the sap
ling of the valley, and the flowers Of the field
all the developments Of nature, to an Infinite
extent, and each with an infinite variety, min
lister to the spiritual progress of man. Nay,
more-God, in his magnificent plan. has or
dained steady revolution Of changesa fire.
quent shifting of the scenes. Hence The sea-
sons that change tle whole aspect OF nature,
divert the meditations of the mind and replen-
ish the table Of the souls communion. We
have Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter
said TO be emblematical Of joy, buoyaut youth,
calm arG industrious manhood, serious and
contemplative old age and of gloomy dotage.
The seasons, as well as every object of nature,
are typical Of some sentiment, emotion or af-
lection Of the mind they appear TO. and call
them into action; but the. character Of the
thoughts elected, and. af the feelings inspired,
depends upon the condition of our intellectual
and spiritual being.
But away with philosophy, when the beau
tful and joyful Spring appears. Let the fall
ing Autumn, when nature puts on her sombre
robe, and the stormy winter, when she has
locked all that is fanciful and variegated from
our view, be devoted to sober philanthropy.
Nature has just stripped the mantle of winter
from the.face of all things, and Il sun locks
down with warm and mellow radiance. The
heat and the gentle showers e-animate the
productive power of the soil, and the seed that
has reposed in its bosom, terminates ard un-
folds itself to beautify the earth and minister
to The wants of living organisms. How chang
ed the aspect Of all things! A carpet Of ver-
dure spreads itself upon the hills and the
plains, and smiles in pleasantness upon all that
walk or repose upon its fresh and tender folds.
The trees among whose naked limbs the winds
have pired their shrile.t whistle, now c'othe
themselves with rich and ornamental foliage,
witch laughs in the face of the sun spreads
its fragrance on the breeze, and modifes its
tones 10 soothing sweetness The birds,
those blissful choristers of nature, joyful!y
leap to the bounds of their winter retreat. ald
come on vaulting wing to celebrate with their
thrilling accents the lovelness of creations
acquire new life, to awake with new hope, and
appreciate the change Of the prospect. All
things. whether animate or in-animate, have
an eloquent inference Ineligible to all spirit
usl beings. We're they of sufficient devotion Of
soul 10 enjoy that higher existence. that up
ne life which is the distinct sphere Of man.
How empha'ically eloquent is Spring She
unrohes TO our view all that can please the ear,
charm the eve. delight the fancy, or STIR the
raptures of the spirit. She speaks the language
of the youth, and innocence. and hope from
every object of creation. The high, the low,
the rich the poor, drink the water Of gladness
she profFers and are animated With new life
Yes. especially,is she a ministering angel to
the poor They who struggle with grim ad-
versity,-whose lot in life has reconcied
them 10 an humble and stinted coalition, ost
fully appreciate he returning of Spring. En-
ter thatragged cot, where father, mother, sons
and daughters have severely felt the pressure
of winters icy hand. With scanty fare and
clothing they have long shivered over few
dying embers. nearly disheartened and almost
resigned TO their bitter extremity. At times
the care-worn parents felt like reclining on
their last couch. and welcoming death as the
bearer of their spirits to a happier cline but
then, the destitute condition Of their little
ones stared them in the face. and a pang
was seen in every feature. s'Oh! what will
become of our Coor and helpless chidrenE'
was their exclamation, as they looked upon
their tattered garments, p aced the last fagot
on the fire, and divided a,ncng them the last
morsel of bread. But now "hope, the charm
er," has entered that dreary abode; Spring
has come and dispelled their sorrows. The
song of gladLess and the laugh of glee is now
heard, and Joy seems to dance around their
humble hearth. Beautiful Spring thou art
full of benevclence, and the poor confidently
trust in thee!
All things, then, are full of life and gladness.
Who would mar the beauty of single object,
or disturb the felicity of single living thing ?
Alas such are TO be found. Behold that