Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-07-16
a MOMENT WITH NATURE.
Its Beauty and Influence.

And thus our lie, exempt from
public haunt.
Finds tongues i'll trees, books in run
ming brooks;
Sermons in stones, and good in every
thing"
The great Shak espeare who spent his
ooyhood days on tie beautiful Avon,
wrote these lines out OF the fullness of
a heart that had held close communion
with nature in her varied aspects.
To those who q souls are open to her
''she speaks a various language" this
spring, especially, for could she ever
have appeared in grander favor. With
rapture We eSclsim, How could
resurrection be more beautiful, more
lovely In this worldl'
Away In the distance stretches the
panoramic view that the eye never tires
gazing upon; in the fields, clothed with
a soft verdure, we see grazing snowy
SHEEP, sleek cattle. and the noble steed.
Here and there are stretches OF wood
land in which lofty giant trees, with
branches covered with a wealth OF
green leaves, lift their proud heads to
the sky; beautiful vines are reaching
out their delicate tendrIls TO the trunk
and branches Of the strong tree for sup
port; the hawthorne, IN Its favorite
spot, is holding up its profusion OF
blossoms TO bird and bee; the Indian
pink. the buttercup and the purple
phlON wave their dainty petals In the
retre,hing Zephyrs; clear, sparkling
brooks, almost smOthered with vines,
ferns and flowers, and in which sport
the minnows, murmurIng and gurgling
on thelr way 10 the sea; the bright
colored lizard and the spotted snake
crawl laZ " out 10 Dask in the sunshine;
the nImble squirrel whIsks from tree t.
tree, with fearless grace; the shy rab-
bit seems 10 lose a part OF his tiIhidlty,
and stpps and gazes at the lover of nat
ure with his large, mild eyes, the bee
huns drowsily in the sunbeams that
find their way through the thick foliage;
the birds make the air resonant with
their songs of praise. anil COO
and twitter 10 their mates involving
notes
Over all this eXpanse OF beauty is
suspended the blue vault Of heaven,
which is dotte Il here aud there by great
soft banks OF clou s, moving slowly
through the atmosphere
Great ledges of rocks, in places, COW
cred with wild ivy and moses, Just out
from the hillsid.s; along heages the
wild rose opens its bright petals, and
the sweet brier waves gracefully in the
wind; quiet farm houses nestle among
tie green foliage OF the surrounding
trees, and from hilltop and valley Is
heard the whistle OF the plow boy.
What has nature omitted to make the
scene one grand beautiful one? IN 9th
ing" is the involuntary reply. The
beauty, the fragrance, is enhancing.
For time We forget We are III a world
of sin and misery.
With such surroundings it seems that
the world must be full OF purity and
goodness, and in the contemplation the
soul is enriched and expanded; Is lifted
20 a higher and nobler plane; is given a
foretaste of the Elysiau fields of Para
disc, is filed with a love OF all creation
and an alteration of the great being who
waves his scepter over all.
Can there be those who live in the
midst OF such surprising loyellncss and
vet be deaf and blind to its moulding
intuencel 1t is, alas, too true There
. are many whose souls are never touched
by the beauty, harmony and Symmetry !
of nature, but whose minds and hearts
are filled with the coarse and groveling
things OF this world
some. In the midst of her beauty, il
their hearts could be laid bare, would
reveal the blackness OF hell itself. There
are many, however, that would yield
To the soothing power of nature IL they
were situated 50 they could commune
with her.
Go to the densest part of our great
p cities and towns and behold there the
wTetchedness and degoedatIon; looE
upon tie filth and squalor of so many
was there, and that heaven is long
: long way of.
How near the soul seems to get u
heaven in its communion with nature
, Out In the green fields, breathing the
fragrant air of heaven, God and Chris
are very near, and the gates Of HEAVIER
seem to lie almost open for the soul Il
catch a glimpse beyond
But how different the feeling In th'
hearts of so many in tie JOStling, over
. heated city; the higher faculties appeal
bluutei, and the baser passions TO have
I excluded the higher and nobler ones
} Aud taking into consideration thei
bIr;h and surr uundings, the a amOspher'
in which they have been reared, W,
wonder that they are not lower down IL
the scale of human depravity-
Msny country boys AMI girls Ion 70
4 the hustle and hurry of the city; life II
the country grows exceedingly mOloto
nous, and they are painting To get AVA.
4 from its quiet scenes None or tn
!. beauty AMI harmony, or very little, a
least. finds acce to their souls. Som
: even consider 1t 4 misfortune to hav
b been born in tie country, and inlagin
I that their city cousins have all the al
< vantage of them
u, This Is a very great mistake, for tn
country boy has the advantages in hi
favor, except In few things. TIL
Y city boy, In the rush and excitement
' has not the opportunity 10 learn |
r think deeply that the country bo
= has.
How many OF our great writer,
: statesmen and jurists have come froI
the country. To have been born in III
: country Is certainly a privilege that fal
V mers' boys All gIrls should appreciate
, and thus make the most of their oIPo
n tunities-
The LAYING out OF parks in our grea
cities has its beneficial influence on u
= inhabitants.
l. 1t is true an occasional visit TO a PAL
?. ctunot afford the advantages for cult
o waiting the love of nature that hon
- In the country can The love OF natul
should he cultivated in the soul
e childhood. The child should he taugl
Q to listen 10 tine voices OF nature aud II
3 terpret them. A momentous duty
% this respect is incumb mt upon parei
N and teacher .
But many parents care nothing 4
the beautiful green fields and wood
u and the soft azure of the sky then
u selves, you urge. That is too true b
that should not lie true OF a teache
anyway.
n 4 teacher who lacks that culture