Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1858-03-11
Rough and Ready Sermon,
No. 4.
BY THE PRAIRIE PREACHER.

TExr:-"Behold now great FIRE little spark |
kindleth."
Ny Beloved Hearers
Have you ever behcld a prairie on fire.
when thousands and thousands ofacres were !
enveloped in flames. which. like some IA
bled monster. swept everything within its
path; roaring. cracking. destroying, lick
ing up with its fiery tongue, all that op-
posed its wild. terrific course? Have you
witnessed, at twilight hour. the brilliant re-
Election of its gorgeous light upon the sky.
forming scene Of startling grandeur,
which might put to shame all other illumi-
nations in the universe combined; and af-
ter all was Ger, did you gazo upon the
vas. expanse, so late the scene of widest
and note the blackened soil,
far as eve could reach. with naught to
break the vision save here and there the
carcass Of some unfortunate animal roasted
in the flames, which soon would be de-
voured by famished wolves? IF SO, did
you trace it to its origin. when the flame
was not larger than your hands, and could
easily have been extinguished by the tram
ping Of your feet? The patching from the
hunters rifle dropped upon the light, dry
grass, was all; moments time only was
required to put it out; that moment was
neglected; lie next. it was beyond his
reach and power.
Have you ever noticed the little tiny
acorn. not larger than the pebble stone,
which even a light breath of wind might
blow away? Yon majestic oak, rearing its
tall top proudly towards the sky. sprung
from its shell. One century ago, the red
man might have cut it down with single
stroke of his tomahawk, to make an arrow
or war club; but sever it to-day from the
parent root. and it falls to the ground with
an echo that makes the forest resound, and
the earth tremble. Like the fall Of strong
man, i. brings down with it all that oppos-
es its course.
Have you seen that little spring away up
in the mountains, sparkling and bubling in
It's innocent joy. from which flows lillle
stream that dances uerily along, foaming
and tumbling in its mrth DER rocks and
lodges, until it reaches the valley below,
when more soberly it moves along. like
man just emerging from childhood. On.
on il goes. widening. deepening, increas-
ing by the donation Of ten thousand spark
ling rills. until it forms the mighty river,
on whose placid bosom, borne by wind and
steam, a thousand sails and floating palac-
es are blowing on their way, richly laden
with all the luxuries that commerce can
provide, or crowded with hosts Of smiling
faces and joyous hearts. On it moves
slower, but more majestic. until its exist
eLce is lost in the trackless ocean. A
child might have dug a channel at the
spring among the mountains, which would
ever more have changed its course, by do.
ing which what changes would have en-
sued!--whele now a thousand busy hands
are rolling freight upon the wharves of a
hourishing city, had the streamlet's course
been changed, no sound Of human voice
would break the silence of natures calm
repose.
Such is Iife How often word, indis
cree.ly spoken, perhaps without the
assistance of thought. will revolulionizc
neighborhcod, town, or even a State
Words. though little things, are the ex.
preston Of thought, formed in the busy
mighty brain, aud. like waterfall, The
higher the source from whence they spring
the more power they possess either for COCO
or evil on those within their Influence. In
childhood, more especially, is charactel
moulded by the influence of words and ex
ample. Their mind, like the mirror, re-
fleets all they hear, and ever after retains
the impress of that reflection. A word
spoken in season, may change the who's
course of their existence, and frame thei
character for ever. The good sense of {
Virginia matron, in establishing the prin
ciples Of honesty and truth on the mind o
her son, above every other consideration
gave us George Washington. Vicious
associates, and a careless regard OF honor
in youth. caused by those associates, gave
us Benedict Arnold.
What greater difference in character be
tween two individuals could be drawn, ant
yet they were both formed by little things
trihes they may have seemed. but what re
suits arose from those trifles, as you cal
,ta,,