Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-08-18
EnunArloN ON TIE HILLTOP.


We wrote brief notice, not long ago, Of
Warren Buttons excellent little book on
"The Culture Of the Observing Faculties"
which the compositor turned into the Author
Of the observing faculties. Culture is the
true word and here is the way Mr.. Burton
would cultivate the observing faculties Of
children on a hill-top-the quotation being
made, not as better than others, but because
it is well-timed This is the time for visit
ing the hill-tops to enjoy the green and gol-
den hued landscape
"Suppose, now, pleasant day, and little
leisure at command, to afford your children,
and indeed yourselves equally, some little
entertainment, perchance Instruction. You
have already become acquainted, perhaps,
with whatever Is within view Of home. You
have observed every house, field, pasture,
wood, rock, shrub, CLEAN of water. How
ever, it is not necessary to wait to get all
these nearest things by eye and heart. Take
your little company to the highest hilltop
you can conveniently reach. From this ele-
walton can be discerned various prominent OBJ
jects in towns around. Give the young OBJ
utiNNlH NAt VI Nubht lONaAiNiNns huu JUST
the direction in which they lie. There are
certain eminences, each perhaps with a name.
There, beneath, are the valleys also. Per-
haps it may be known that considerable
river has its course through some Of them, or
al least some brook large enough to turn the
useful mill. Describe these streams. well
known TO your larger experience, which the
children cannot discern in their sunken and
shaded channels. But they can see with the
naked eye, well you, the many varied
features of the landscape between the centre
where they stand and the whole horizon
round. Now make game Of it: see who
can count the greatest number Of distinct
fields, or pastures, or separate pieces of
woodland, and the greatest number of hills.
Indeed, as to this feature, you may let the
eye descend to the minutest prominences on
the sur face, and you will find that the sight
will become amazingly sharp, and pick up the
least little haycock of hill at a distance
which would not have been thought possible
before Then let the vision hunt after val
leys, and any little dips and crinkles in the
lands surface, in the same m nner. There
are cliff, and rocks. and sir gle trees standing
in open land, and houses and out-houses TO
be payfully sought likewise. Withal, take
note in which direction exactly any road may
run, or valley wind. or stream meander; at
what point Of the compass any house or hill
may be situated. II there be a mountain in
tire distance. there will be a something not
only to fasten the eye, but to feed it with
beauty or lift it to grandeur Depend upon
it, my friends, thGt you will give your chill
dren and yourselves not only a most enter
tanning, but a very instructive excursion. The
visit to the spot may be repeated several
times before all the objects Of the expanse
shall fall beneath inspection, or the lesson OF
the pleasure be exhausted. By-and-by you
will climb, with your little company Of OBJ.
servers, some loftier hill or the mountain-top
and, from such a height, advance your knowl.
edge, possibly, to distant states"