, 1870-12-25

over the harbor, and TAR Away over upon tho
blue Orange Mountains-do yon 1sk for
what? Why, to collect my thoughts, to DO
tu1e. I have collected 4 good many things ia
my day, bu: nothing that was 90 hard as to
coIlec, my thoughts. To collect hens or tu1-
ke5s, and drive Them to the yard; to collect
tho castle..,cows. oxen, calses. and all-out Of
vide and long pasture full OF tangled woods
or raxinea, is enough Troublesome Bat these
arc all easy. compared With collecting ones
thoughts. Like Nild birds, when they have
noWn away, one never knows where to look
for thin.
While I VAS thus gazing into tbs blne abore,
and upon the Always new scene OF harbor
life, up came from tie yard below, and perch
ed upon the iron railing outside OF my vim
old-sashioned American eott, but one Of the
CHEEKY, pugnae,ous, chirping, jolly listls Eng
lib epA1rows that have now filled our streets,
and whom everybody seema intent upon fesl-
irg during the cold Of winter.
Tho little philosopher WAS out on medita-
tion. Al any rate, be seemed in quiet moot1.
aud looked in on me With an observing air.
He changed his place. turned rcund two Or
three times, cocksd lis hest', now this y =
and now that, pEtil be was satisfied that he
lid taken my tnii measure and understood
Ill about me.
Hayirg studied bird nature for many sua,-
meEs. and =: last having attained oruithoIo &c
htrcd philosopher wAs thinking OF.
His trtt impres tor ~:s that wAs far too
large. What use was there in such = BODY ?
lie was about the right eize himself, and coa:d
not imagine Hby anything should wish 10 be
bigger. he confirmed himself in these vie : >
hy the reelection that could pot ay. AL
anything not able to hy wAs. in Lis opiaias.
OF small account.
lie next looked pityiusly on my clo.h.s.
comparing them With his own feathers, = ii
commfserated the life Of one who buttoped On
biz apparel Instead Of having it esox u, ~
lin. And in THU ylew I gave lin rny syn A.
tLy' No Washing days fof birds no tsifos< to
sui and ht7 20 needlewomen to mend; no
holts Of r'ps but everything auug aud tid:.
With but few minutes dressing each uorr-
ing with lis bill, which IL far more acEeeAnIe
than a clothie1s bill,
AZ ear quite still, neither hopping not fls-
ins, he concluded that Was stupid and heayv.
ne sddEested fe~ chifpa to me, but gessas
no reply, II VIA his impression that Tas rn-
sec,a,, ~ well - c3umsT and sto!id.
Adm idea aoated through his mind OF ths
unhapplpeae Of creatures thst had no peetr
that seemed never to care for seed 0.
wcrm~delicacaes that often tempted him into
my yard and he bad seen me pass UNDECIDED
such exquisite siAnds. In ehort every re-
spect in which differed from bird be notei
TO my disadrantaga- All things which are
human md civilized were too high for hia COM
prehension. The result was. therefore, tlAt
ny tpsfEux philosopher dew on to inform lis
classes in philoeophy that man Il An unforsu-
nate creature, having ahundred tines the bulk
Of ! spa!1oE, without one Of those gifts
whleh make bird life 90 charming But being
bird OF some sepnibiIty. he cautioned LIS
little toek not to let their opinions be kuo IN
to men. ~ It might add eorne needless regrets
to be1pgr alfeaay 10 unfortunate by their Or
ganization.
Well. il not this abont what men are do
ing Il not the child looking up II MAN.
heod, comparing it with the little standard Of
his own with just about I spa.rox's wisdom :?
Are not the poor and ignorant looking up
It the rich and educated through the lens Of
-thef own experience?
Am not I contemplating the great Over
Soul 1t ! distance vastly greAter than that be-
tween the aparrow and nyrelf: Ard whan II
length I shall see Him t'as He ls,~ viii it not
appear that my conception Of intnite wisto n
and infinite love we're far less worth OF Him
than spa11ow nnuoa Of ! nan:-Ne1e York
Ledger.