The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-02-18

marred It's face since the forming hand OF
Deity gave beauty to its proportions and
pronounced il good. When our 6rst pa,
rents sinned, "earth felt the wound" The
isaucnce Of that act was felt through oil her
vide domoins-it extended on to coming
eeneratiOns-it Is operating still. The
thorn, the thistle, end the noxious weed, are
indisDHtable Testimony that the earlh has
been cursed. And yet, amid the deformity
apparent around Us. we may discover traces
OF the beauty that reigned in Eden. We
see that oil things were originally adapted
to promote The hsppiness Of man.
The great object, then, in cul,iva,ing the
soil, should be to remedy, as fur as practica-
bic, the evils with which we have to con
tend. As in the moral world, we are u Ia.
Dor to restore the harmony, the happiness
and piesy that reigned in Paradise before the
full; SO in the natural, we should seek to
restore the face Of nature TO her pristine
beauty. Deformity may be apparent around,
yet lubor and skill may shape the most un.
slightly landscape into scene Of beauty
Sterilly may hold possession Of the soil,
yet industry and killimuy render it produc
tive. These may make the most uninviting
residence un object Of admiration, and sur
round it nth the varied comforts that contri.
butte t. the happiness Of man.
Man appears - be left to determine his
owH condition in life, to certain extent
He was not erected 10 revel in idleness amid
a profusion Of blessings. But the comforts
he desires must be sought by labor and toll.
Every thin. around him invites to industry
his own desire for creature 'goud-the claims
OF those dependent upon him, and the gen.
'erul welfare Of the community in which he
resides. Nature, also, both animate and in.
animate, urge 10 this. They present an in.
drx that points to dutys they utter voice
i, that urges to its performance. Nor is sci .
ishness to Be the ruling motive OF action -
Each Is to feek the genera g cd and to y
the world under obligation to aim, because
he becomes public benelscior, because by
his industry and Xxi he uugments the
an,oant OF human happ'n, ss, and renders the
world more beautiful. Nature is luvi-h OF
her gifts where the skill and industry pre-
pare the wuy for their bestowai, bat with.
hoIds them when id.enes, and sloth bear
rude.
Such being our coalition and our duty, the
active aud inventive geHihuis or Nan should
ever be on the alert, TO devise methods or
fulfilling the grea. end OF existence. And
the object that has brough, us together
this day, suggests one method by which we
may contribute 10 our own indv dual coin,
~ I, end to lhat OF the community. Fruit cu!.
sure appeurs to be indigenous, !! l may so
speak, to man. This was the employment
Of our first parents in Eden, aud the source
from which they derived their sustenance.-
And in what way can man render his st
ua'ioh more com 'ortable. set a better exam.
pie. Or more etec'Saliy benefit community,
than BY the cultivation Of fruit. :, 49,.
The employment is eourte Of pleasure,
There is hartiionzipg it fence in The. pur'
suit that soitens the rugged ssperities ot oul
nature. The love of trees and flowers bei
gets tenderness df feeling, ,h.s we eoult
wish were mere generally difused. There
is too much danger Of the gross, and sensual
and selfish. in our character a, community
xGd while our reliance must be mainly vi
religious and educational influences to cor
rect this tendency, yet we believe good
would result from the cultivation Of irui
and flowers. 1t leads the mind "tO lool
through nature up to natures God" Where
yuu see dwelling surrounded by nothing
inviting, standing bleak and chserless. like
a pyramid in the desert. without shrub O
a flower to relieve the eye--sithout tre'
to afford shade from the scorching sun, or t
yield fruit for the c,mlOrt oi its inmates, ex
cept perchance II be lew neglected, hal
decoyed specimens, you may be pretty sur
the character of the inmates will cores
pond. The Grabbed specimens Of irui, ther
found, the acidity Of which is sufficient t
. give man the lock inv, may be cone idere
on index Of the temperament Of the owne'
His soul is either bound up in selfshnes.
and the beauties Of nature eclipsed from hi
sight by the glitter OF gold boarded to be
/, source OF contention among his heirs, or els
debased BY idlensss and dis ,ipation. Bu
{. the man OF generous feeling finds pleasur
, lin the cultivation Of his trees. In the open
! ing germ, he beholds the promise Of Iutur
. good. He looks forward to the time whe
lheS shall minister 10 bis comfort, his healtl
4 his happiness. and his improvement. Whe
1 the opeting flowers give promise Of perfect
ing irui,, they inspire feelings that are noh
a and generous, and that give expansion to u
!, soul. And the realization Of bis expects
,ions no. only gives Permansncy to thei
: erSotions, but begets thankfulness and cor
!. ltcntlnent. He lives and poves in spheI
n Of snioymen fat absve the niggardly mise
e He basks id . brighter sun and breathe
Q . pu;sr atmosphere II = '.Ii ~
VI The pleasure thus Afforded SppSafs to !
. natnrsi.sy How often do we see the chi
thst 10 educated under . proper inausnc
culsivating his miniature orchard and gal
Is den. And the trees and shrubs, cultivat'
1. In childhood, often .become the ccmpanio