Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-08-03
Original 4apers,
For the Spirit Of the Age.
LESSONS FROM NATURE.
BY MATTE.

by MATTE. =
Who that rightly views Nature, can say :
there are no lessons to be learned from her. ! !
Look up to The glorious "orb of day > be- n
hold him following the grey light of morn, 7
blushiug red in the rosy clouds of the east; '
higher he ascends, shedding his golden '
rays first on the tree-tops then as he as =
cends higher and still higher, till all earth I
is bathed in his glory; then he descends
slowly to the west, receding and bearing :
with him all light All light, did | say :
No, not all for see from the east the Sill /;
YER Queen is slowly rising, and her lustre, I
though feebler than che proud god of day,
is more beautiful and captivating. And :
the shining Stars, one by one, come forth
as lovely aids to pale Luna in making
Night glorious too. Onward they go
each one world or sun of light, and each
one at his own peculiar pace riding on
ward and still Onward in perfect harmony,
0through the void immense" till the God
Of the Universe shall bid them cease their
constant rounds. ......
But you have viewed nature only in its
placid moments. Look now at that dark,
threatening cloud rising from the west =
Listen to the deep. toned thunder, rolling
and reverberating through the heavens
the fierce lightning flashing; the winds
lashing and swaying the mighty trees of
the forest, becoming stronger and stronger
every moment till at length it comes whir-
ling with al its resistless force! oh
God fierce Tornado is upon us. The
thunder bolt has riven the stately dwelling,
and is bearing and scattering its roof far
and near. We rush for the door, thinking
to escape from IL, but trees are falling
thickly around it, twisted together and un-
resistingly borne to the ground. We dare
not rush out. Then where is our refuge
In the Goo Of the Tempest! Let us go
kneel before Him.
The whirling cloud of wind is past and
we are still unhurt in body; but the fierce
elements rest not yet; the rain descends
in torrents, the thunders still send their
hoarse voices through the heavens; the
lightnings still fash the tiny rivulet and
smooth flowing brooklet Of this morning is
changed to the turbid stream whose wa
ters 90 rushing madly to the noble river.
Tired Of viewing the raging elements, we
retire to our couch-perhaps without one
word ofpraise and prayer to that God who has
protected us in the midst of all these dan
gers. We sink to slumber; perhaps an
uneasy one, for we have not recovered
from your previous fright. But bark
what sound is that 1t sounds like the
rush Of waters. Let US open the door and
look forth. Our hearts quail at the sight
The noble river from which we thought
there was no danger, is madly swelling to-
wards our door, and still rising. Where
now is our hopes Let US look we'll to the
foundation Of our houses and see if there
be any hope that it will stand unmovec
and resist the angry waters. Is it built oil
strong, firm rock; or is it built on {
sandy foundationl If on a rock, there i
hope but if the foundation be not firm
one, there is no hope. Let us learn from
this what utterly helpless and dependen
creatures we are, and ever build on tn
"Rock of Ages" lest the last great storm
sweep our only hope from rs. re-
And now let MS turn to the type of q lif
as given by Nature. Behold the buddin
flowers and plants of spring Many {
them have just put forth their tender leaves
When the blighting frost came some will
cred and died ; others braved the bligh
ing blast and storms and lived their seaso
out.
Look at the golden grain and luscio,
fruits waving in the summer brcezes. III
burning MONDAY sun and pleasant dew
nights. How joyiully do we hail the ge1
tie rain, watering the dry earth and coo
ing the hot air; the breeze, which we
dread in winter, we now gladly feel; Il
sweet songs Of the birds as they futt
from bough to bough of trees and flowc
do they not seem to be ever sending graf
ful songs Of praise and alteration to Il
God OF Nature Behold the rich glori
of sober Autumn; the leaves assume eve
variety Of hue, from the rich vermilion
the golden yellow, lingering thus awbi
then falling slowly to the earth. And n,
comes the chilling north winds, the co
keen air, congealng the soft dews of t
night and blighting many a plant a
flower OF beauty. The SHOWS desceI
clothing the earth in its heecy folds I
forest trees are shoIn Of their glory, strett
ing their naked arms towards the heaye
and bending their bodies before the win
blast.
Is it not type Of life The spring
youth, how beautiful to many; to 9th
the chilling frosts have nipped the flo,
of hope and they have faded and pas
away. Then the seed for the future /
vest are sown, and the germs Of future
nlncss or wickedness begins to expand