, 1881-09-18
"a TOUR ROUND MY GARDEN"

account" OIL ulc u00u.
IA TOUR R0UND MY GARDEN"
There is much jealousy and envy Of those
. who make the tour of the world. In the
homes Of the poor there are many heart
burnings when the rich and the prosperous
pack their trunks for long journeys. Those
who are compelled to stay at home take little
thought of the discomtorts and WEAKNESS Of
travel. They contemplate only ore side of
the picture-its bright side, Its variety of
natural scenery, its round OF amusements,
its vivid impressions of n'cn and things. its
value as an educational influence. There is
charming book, written many years ago by
the naturalist, Alphonse karr, whose benefl-
cent purpose was to produce content in the
homes Of those who arc unable to indulge
the universal desire for travel, for change,
fornew sights and experiences. karr one
day witnessed the departure for the tour OF
the world OF his neighbor and friend with
deep feeling OF envy.
The old-faslioned departure Of the tourist
by "post" is describcd-the horses paving
the ground impatiently, the position crack-
ing his whip. the eQuipage moving away and
disappearing down the road. The feeling of
envy OF the observer OF so much prospective
happiness deepcns into ill-wilt: 1t ap-
peared to me that the only road in tile worll
was that which You were pursuing, and that
you had taken it away with yon"--thus karr
apostrophises the traveller. But this feeling
OF bitterness against his friend soon passed
away from the heart of karr, and lie conf
planned that his own seanty fortune would
not permit him to see other countries, other
men, and other climates" and thus he be-
came painfully aware Of the epoverty which
had not till then oppressed him. From this
mood he was at last aroused BY the grandeur
OF the darkening hcayens, the softness OF the
breeze, making music in the trees, and the
magnificence of the sunset. The n lie re-
Hected upon the exQuisit deIicacy Of lis
senses, their capability Of contributing to his
enjoyment Of so much present beauty, and he
sank to sleep filled with pity for those poor
RICH" compelled by q feeling of restlesness to
traverse the universe i'll search OF that haDpl-
ness which springs only from 'content1nent,
quality Of the mind, an inspiration Of the
heart, not an outward condition.
It is needless to say that karr resolves to
1athC 1AC tVAA Va ia1o EdAA&at H1A4AN H4o A4AS"s@
IS engaged in making the tour of the world.
What Karr's friend saw may be found In
Thousand books of travel more or less STU
pid. What the naturalist saw from his cham
ber-window, from his balcony, in the garden
walk, on a rose-busl. in cherry tree, on the
turf under his feet, has robbed many al hour
OF WEAKNESS, inspired thousands with 4 feel
ings Of content, and invested with a new
charm the simple surroundings of hone-life.
From his window karr observes md tells
the story of 1.-THE Loves Of the Spiders"-
how the male tinlldly approaches the female,
knowing that he is in peril Of his life, for if
she does not love him she will deyour him.
"But if she is insensible, If iler hour has not
yet come, she nevertheless advances slowly
to meet the trembling Uippolytus, who seeks
in vain to read in her features whether he is |
to hope or to fear; then, when at few PAGES
from the amorous youth, she darts upon
him, seizes him, and eats llim!"
The naturalist stretches himself at full
length on his back "upon 4 grassy bank !
sprihkled with violets beneath a great oak"
Between the branches lie catches views of |
"blue patches Of the heavens" Lie shears |
4 thousand noises in the airs; a claf1inch |
twitters at the summit Of the tree; bees |
buzz around" him, and soft p1lffs Of flower I
scented mir stir the leaves. " 4 grain Of |
grountsel surmountcd by little downy t
parachute sails over him through the air to |
go and SOW itself at dlstance.". Then fol- |
lows all exquisit dissertation, consisting Of |
fact. poetry, and sentiment, on the habits |
and loves OF plants and flowers.
Again apostropl,isillg his friend at the |
other side OF the world, the naturalist ut
home exclains: "Clinlb mountains, my |
dear friend,, cross torrents. descend preci- |
pices, be drawn by horses, asses, mules. REIN
deer, camels, or dogs, according to the cou1,-
try in which you are. Here am I, returned
again to my oak, once more reclining OH the
grass, but this time with my face dowlwards,
some few inches from the ground, and it ap-
pears to me not at :lll unlikely that shall be
IS fortunate as you in our common ardor in
search Of that which is llew." ''rhis green
MOSS" proceeds the naturalist, "apprars to
ne to be trees, and the insects which wander
'yer its velvet surface assume in MY eyes an
Importance equal to that of the deer and
;tags Of park.' How cllarmingly he dis
courses on the mold, tho mushroom, tho
moss, the lchen, anu the fern, showing then.
% possess all the beauties, in miniature, Of
he forest Of oak, pine, maple, and elm!
Ellen lie tells the story Of the caterpillar
which he found dining off Il STALK OF ground
;el-the story of its progress toward the but~
erfly state OF airy gorgeousness. Then,
luggartl that he is. lying prone on the grass,
lie considers the ant. "Ants.' he says, ttare
marching through the g,ass as we would
march through thick forest; there are for
hem, between these closely growing blades,
outes, roads, and foot-patls'' lie follows
hem to their subterraneous abode, ana tells
It their business, their loves, their hates.
nd their fierce battles, and, in conclusion.
xclaims: :'How many men there are who
'ould smile at seeing us looking at ants, and
Fho think that God has His eyes constantly
pon them, and passes His eternity in obsery-
NJ what they think,of Him!"
1t is in his garden at home that Karr en-
oys and describes the birth Of the new day:
The birds awaken and begin their morning
THkah h1n |