The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-05-13
For the National Era.
BY THE w I N D 0 w

Not by the street window to-day. / do not
care to see fashion and rags, idleness and busi-
ness, in multiform variety passing and repass
ing before me.
By this window, into which the morning sun
light comes, the sights of the busy world all
shut out, and its sounds heard only in indistinct
murmurings, like the sound of far-of waters, /
will watch the moving clouds in their changing
beauty, and the swelling buds which are famed
by every breath of this fresh breeze. 1t is q
Joy to be alive this bright spring morning,
when all nature is awakening to newness of
life, and the very air is full of gladness and
hope.
How strange, how beautiful, this miracle in
the spring, continually recurring and forever
new, this wide resurrection, this clothing of
dry forms with fresh young beauty
Last year, l watched a rose bush in our gar.
den, from the time when the winter SHOWS melt
ed away till the tiny leaf-buds came, in obedi-
ence to a call | could not hear, and began to
swell and expand, aud, al last, clothed the bare
branches with full garments of green. watch
ed the flower buds, silently taking the places
assigned to them, and gradually expanding into
the perfect flowers, whose mission was to give
beauty and fragrance to the world, and to teach
us, by the beautiful order and full success of
their lives, that we have only to be what God
meant us to be; only, in unquestioning obedi-
ence and faith to follow the laws of our being !;
only to be our own best selves, without thought
Of what others are or can be, and our lives will
take their places in the Divine order.
Receiving into my heart the lessons which
the rose-bush taught me by the gradual unfold
iug, the beauty and rich results of its spring
and summer life, / thought of the beautiful
story of Picciola, and wondered no longer at
the strange ministry of the little flower in the
lonely prison court, and the miracle it perform
ed in a human heart.
Thus, silently and eloquently, nature is always
preaching through her countless ministers, but
our ears are filed with the discordant sounds
Of EARTH and our eyes are dazzled by its glitter
ing shows; thus "having eyes, we see not" the
beauty that is all around US, and shaving ears,
We hear not the truths that would lead us into
freedom and light.
This little spot of ground which am watch
mg from my window is a treasure to us, which
dwellers In the country, and the owners of
many acres, cannot rightly estimate. We
came into possession OF it last year. It is
little patch Of ground, IN the heart of the city,
fenced in by large, dark buildings and high
fences from the rest of the world, but not fenc.
ed in from the blue sky, the bright sunlight,
the free winds, and the nightly dews, with their
blessed ministries. 1t is q good thing that
nsp mn Int a. Land H. Ia
deed takes in all between that and the blue
heavens. Nothing can come between.
There was division in the family council,
when the momentous question, 7" Shall We have
flowers or vegetables in our garden 2" was to
be decided.
Fresh eucumbers every day, early tomatoes
aud tender radishes," said one party.
boquets OF our own gathering, with the
morning dew upon them, roses, verbenas, hello
tope, and mignonette," said the opposition
speakers,
But the practical portion of the hon sehold
was in the ascendency; 80 large proportion
Of the precious territory was given I'D to
utilitarisn purposes, and the Aower.lovers
thankfully took possession of the little portion
allotted to them.
But such flowers That little tract of earth
as if in fierce competition with its practical
u, h600
most of itself, and astonished all beholders
Roses in great variety blossomed in beauty
and fragrance, and beautiful wild violets
brought from the shadow of the dark, greer
woods lost none of their beauty in the home o.
their adoption. Never was mignonette more
fragrant, or sweet peas sweeter, or asterI
brighter and longer-lived than ours.
But the morning glories were the GROWING
glory of the garden. They grew in hotbet
haste, and with an upward tendency that hal
only once been equalled. The little hero
when history has rendered immortal, going
out with his morning allowance of bread and
butter, to note the progress his bean-vine had
made during the night probably Witnessed q
similar example of miraculous growth. Oul
morning glories were prevented from reaching
unknown heights and bearing giants treasures
on their summit by the unweIcome blssts Of
November, that left no beauty where they
swept in their fury. sseZ :,
But the vegetables. There were the~ full
cucumber vines with their wealth of colder
blossoms and green fruit potatoes, beets. AND
fadishes; but the rsdshes gave no occasion foy
boasting to the cultivators of the soil. for the
strength and glory we're in the large waving
Tops, while the roots were only dry piemies
Inc King OF the vegetable world was the corn
now Its strong, green leaves stretched upward,
70 the sunshine, and waved in the wind, an6
urank IN the rain Then came its silken eIorv
ana hnally the full ear. Soon the fact wa,
announced that some day we could have full
!eiioW ears of corn, of our own raising. 10
ainner. What watching and counting Of ears
not OF kernels :