North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-11-03
McGREGoR, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, NOV. g. 1862
The Hill of Science.

AauiuS STaCeS VI 1uspifiuS dutuhu, opeH
the mind to benevolence, and dispose it
for contemplation, was wandering in
beautiful and romantic country, till Curl
osity began to give way to WEAKNESS and
sat down on the fragment Of rock over
grown with moss, where the rustling of
the falling leaves, the dashing of waters,
my mind into most perfect tranquility
and sleep insensibly stole upon me, as l
was indulging the agreeable reveries,
:. which the objects around me naturally
INSPIRED. a
i l Immediately found myself in vast
extended plain, in the middle of which
arose mountain, higher than had before
any conception of. 1t was covered with
a multitude of people, chiefly youth, many
of whom pressed forward with the liveliest
expression Of ardour in their coantenance,
though the way was, in many places,
steep and difficult.
l observed, that those, who had just be-
gun to climb the hill, thought themselves
not far from the top but as they pro-
ceeded, new hills were continually rising
to their view; and the summit of the
highest they could before discern, seemed
but the foot Of another;,till the mountain
at length appeared to lose itself in the
, clouds.
AS was gazing On these things with
astonishment, a friendly instructor sud
denly appeared: "The mountain before
thee" said he, sis the Hill Of Science
On the top, is the temple Of Truth, whose
head is above the clouds, and veil of
pure light covers her face. Observe the
. progress of her votaries; be silent and
attentive.
After had noticed variety of objects,
| turned my eye towards the multtudes
+, who were climbing the steep ascent, and
observed amongs them youth of lively
Is look, piercing eye, and something fiery
and irregular in all his motions. His
]. name was Genius. He Garted like an
eagle up the mountain, and left his com.
panions gazing after him with envy and
admiration; but his progress was unequa
!. and interrupted by thousand caprices.
When Pleasure warbed in the valley
he mingled in her train. When Pride
beckoned towards the precipice, he ven
L. tured to the tottering edge. He delighte'
in devious and untred paths, and made S
many excursions from the road, that hi
lfsetler companions often outstripped him
] observed that the Muses. beheld him wit
-, par,iality but Truth often frowned, an
turned aside her face.
While Genius was thus wasting hi
strength in eccentric flights, l saw pei
4, son of very different appearance, name
!, Application. lie iept along with sloN
~ and unremitting pace, his eyes fixed O
to the top of the mountain, patiently re
: moving every stone that obstructed hi
~ way, till he saw most of those below him
who had at first derided his slow and toi
some progress.
l. Indeed, there were few who ascende
Jet the hill with equal and uninterrupte
led steadiness; for, besides the difficulties Q
the way, they were continually solicited t
A' turn aside, by numerous crowd of Al
his petites, Passions, and Pleasures, who's
'h, On, importantly, when once complied with
t4ey became less and less able to resist
! and though they often returned to tn
L path, the aspcrities Of the road were mor
severely felt; the hill appeared niol
steep and rugged the fruits, which wei
wholesome and refreshing, seemed hars
IS, and ill tasted their sight grew dim, an
their feet tript at every little obstruction
.ur / saw, with some surprise, that til
MUSES., whose business was to cheer an
ash encourage those who were toiling up tt
cry ascent, would often sing in the bowers
nth Pleasure and accompany those who wei
enticed away at the call of the Passion
They accompanied them, however, but
= little way, and always forsook them whe
n. they lost sight of the hill. The tyran
-, then doubled their chains upon the unhal
DIV captives; and led them away, witho,
resistance, to the cells Of Ignorance. or til
'SsS mansions of Misery.
Amongst the inumerable sedueers, WI
- were endeavoring to draw away the vota
.sisl 'sL les of Truth from the path of scienc
there was one. SO little formidable in hi
appearance, and SO gentle and ianguid
sn, : ~ her attempts, that sheuld scarcely ha,
el2 taken notice of her, but for the numbc
= she had imperceptibly loaded with hi
chains.
Indolenee, (for so she was called,) fl
from proceening to open hostilities, dl
not attempt to turn their feet out OF tt
path, but contented herself with retardin
their progress; and the purpose she coul
not force them to abandon, She persuade
- them to delay. Her touch had powe
like that Of the torpedo, which withere
= the strength of those who came within il
81 influence. Her unhappy captives sti
X turned their faces towards the temple, an
always hoped to arrive there; but tn
ground seemed to slide from beneath the
viii feet, and they found themselves at the DO
'e" tom, before they suspected they ha
changed their place.
The placid serenity, which at first ap
peared in their countenances, changed b
degrees into melancholy languor, whic
was tinged with deeper and deeper gloon
,, as they glded down the stream of lnsil
nifeanca n dark and slugyish waite