Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-09-26
For the vermont v
Beauties OF Nature.

OF all the strange and wonderful things in
the world, one of the most remarkable is the
abundance of beauty. From the smallest
tuft OF knot-grass that persistently springs
up beneath the cruel tread of man aud beast
to the tall aud majestic giants of the forest;
from Greenland's mountains of glittering ice
TO the land that teens with fruit and flowers
all the year round from the vast desert of
burning sands to the shores of the eternal
sounding sea, nature has waved her magic
wand and a shower of beauty has fallen all
the way. The material needs of man are
served, he is clothed and fed and all his
many wants most beautifully supplied, and
yet still more is given; beauty to please the
soul and feed and comfort the finer faculties
OF his nature. The golden corn that waves
its rich and glossy leaves in the sun; the
bearded grain that submissive bows its
heavy head to the sweeping and the raging
of the tempest the luxuliant field of grass
and blooming clover-how beautiful in form,
in color how exceeding fair. The orange,
the apple, the peach, the pear and the rich
clusters OF purple grapes that load down the
trail, trembling, mother vine, and the lovely
fruit that nestes i'll among the broad, pro-.
tecting leaves OF the proud and lofty palm
tree, with their beauty and attractiveaess,
wisdom which combines such beauty and
usefulness in all things spread out before
us. What more lovely picture than
waning summers afternoon, when the air is
filled with varied sounds from the katy
dds and grasshoppers, and an almost i'm
perceptible breeze, fragrant with the breath
OF roses, bearing upward and onward far
above the mountain tops countless millions
of gOssamer balloons, laden with their
freight of thistle seed, each going OH its own
appointed mission, now slowly sailing, now
mounting higher and higher until we are
lost in wonder aud admiration. Later in
the day, as the great, warm sun retires from
his labors and slowly sinks to rest behind
the distant mountain top, his last moments
are beautifully employed, tinging with gold
and red the somber clouds, and shedding,
with his last farewell smile, a roseate beauty
over all the western half of heaven. BY and by
the full round moon comes up, and, with a
star or two beside her, rides through the
blue above, looking down and enchanting
into loveliness the quiet town, where tired
nature rests, and the heart finds time for ST
lent musing. The lily, SO pure and white,
surrounded by broad green leaves floating
OH the silvery waters OF lake and pond, is
lovely and attractive; and, though many a
poet has sung its praise, its modest beauty
Is ever fresh and new. Hateful things
are transformed into animated beauty !" the
fallen and decaying tree is kindly dressed
i'll bright mosses and lichens, making beau
tiful its otherwise uncomely appearance
and the dull gray rock is painted with lively
colors that fascinate the eye. In the depths
OF ocean are wonderful things of indescrib-
able beauty Her shores are paved with
bright-colored pebbles, sprinkled with beau
tiful shells borne out on rushing, foaming
tide, and in its hasty retreat lett and tor
gotten. The waters themselves, breaking
and foaining as the proud steamer plows
her way along and closing again behind her
mark the sea with lovely lines OF sparkling
beauty by day or night. Even the great
brown timbers of the wharf are frescoed
with scarlet and green sea-weed aud moss
with here aud there queer little star-fsl
nestled in between. AT night how beauti
fully blossoms the heavenly garden Al
first the larger and more hardy flowers bios
som early III the evening" then the more
delicate come out, one by one, until TO the
naked eye, many trail and trembling beau
ties forever remain unseen. Thus all night
long the heavens blossom and glow with
billions OF bright star flowers; yet so unlike
the flower gardens OF the wealthy, sur
rounded and hidden from view by fence OIL
hedge. This lovely garden blooms alike fol
old and young, ricn and poor A little
child once said, " Mamma, | know what the
stars are they are Gods windows TO look
through out OF heaven" 10 my mind, al
The beauties VI nature are windows through
which We may look and see and feel The
tender mercy and loving kindness OF God.
Pine Glen, 1877.