Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-09-04
Reading.

Unto how many has it occurred that when
the book is closed, the paper read, the sheet
Of music put away, reading is at an end ?
But the highest authority says, " The heav-
ems declare the glory of God, and the firma-
ment showeth his handiwork." And the
poet " Good good by name and nature
says
" Not worlds on worlds, in phalanx deep,
Need we to prove God is here;
The daisy, fresh from winters sleep,
Shows it In lines as clear!'
1t is in this broad, open book of nature
Gods own handiwork-we should find a
store-house of beautiful, compensating read
ing. To the botanist, the "humblest leaf,
famed by the gale" is full of stories that he
reads more eagerly than the latest novel, and
derives solid comfort and instruction there
from. The most minute portion of flower
portion sometimes unseen except by the
microscope, contains more instruction than
many closely printed page, and to him
who reads rightly is full of beauty, and often
times awakens an enthusiasm that no human
production can aspire to do. And who ever
steps to the summer door, or walks to the
dusty highway, or climbs the most barren
hillside where some little plant lifts its per-
fumed breath in incense to the skies, has
talkative companion, more fresh than any
story-book, and can "read as he runs" or
,uh roads Hig mind
truly run and not be weary who reads under
standingly the page of nature embossed with
glory gems.
The late DIR. Dick of Scotland, in his "Si.
derial Heavens" makes the reading of the
stars that nightly walk the lofty terraces of
sky but as so many stepping stones to
heaven. Or rather, he thinks what we read
upon the plane of the visible heavens will
be remembered in the kingdom of heaven,
where we shall go on to read the whole vol
ume and, having perused the title page here
of astronomy, will be so much gained in our
future knowledge.
But not to speculate with things too deep
for us, the moss-grown rock has a tale to tell,
and the pebble in the brook is clearly written
with lore of richest meaning to one who
will take the trouble TO read and history
of ages is written, perhaps, upon some of
our weather-beaten rocks; and the geologist
or another Agassiz may rise to read them
sooner than any one shall be able to make
put the romance of the Written Valley " in
the Sinaitic peninsular, where Horatius
Bonar, DID,, saw miles of rock covered with
NOT hieroglyphics, but an alphabetical Ian
guage. DIR. Bonar speculates they may
have been carved there upon the soft sand
stone by workers in the copper mines, and
preserved through many ages, on account of
the dry climate.
All this tends to keep that lofty thing,
the human mind,' humble, seeing there is SO
much upon the green earth about us unread
so much in the rocks unfathomed, so many
tale even, borne down to us through the
ages, the work of the hands of men frail as
ourselves, which men of the greatest learn.
ing have failed hitherto to translate.
The telephone and many another matter
tell us of the hidden sources of nature men
may yet read as an open book. But more
than all, the thoughtful mind that looks
within and reads his own heart is led to CRY
out with the Psalmist, 81 am fearJuiiy ant
wonderfully made"