Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-25


table life. The vegetable world has a
thousand lessons TO teach US. that wo
would be wise TO lay to heart and be
happier for them. The highest type OF
man Is the tree planted by the water
side. that brings forth fruit In his sea-
son. The grand picture OF Nebuchad-
nezzar's dream is royal. indeed:
Behold, tree In the midst Of the earth,
and the height thereof was great. The
tree grew. and was strong. and the
and the sight thereof TO the end OF
all the earth; the leaves thereof were
fair. and the fruit thereof much. and
in Il was meat for all: the beasts OF the
field had shadow under It, and the fowls
OF Heaven dwelt In tho boughs thereof,
and all flesh was fed Of II.
what a splendid imagination OF man!
Yet to bs hewn down II Queen Victo-
ria were only a great man, how she
might answer to IT,
Such a vegetable as that tree may
wonderfully enlarge our conceptions OF
the possibilities Of manhood; and the
fate OF 1t remind us OF the dangers Of
exaltation and greatness. "And then he
falls as / do"
But our knsmen Of the vegetable king
dom have other and pleasanter lessons
to teach US. One OF the earliest Is
just what the good mother impresses on
the little boy: TO be sure and keep our
hands and faces clean, and behave our
selves The Court Of Chancery requires
that It's suitors must come with clean
hands. The Scriptures order: Be ye
clean. that bear the vessels OF the Lord.
Clean hands and a pure heart become
saints wash you; mako you clean;
says the prophet. And all that the Lord
requires Of us is TO behave ourselves as
dear children; TO do justice. love
mercy, and walk humbly with our God"
All these re the lessons OF nature
beautiful little children: the violets and
roses and lilies They are pleasant and
beautiful In their lives; they do their
duty in that state Of life in which God
has placed them; leaving it TO Him 10
say where they shall live and how II
shah be with them.
The fir-tree, the pine, and the box,
the myrtle and the oak, are all full OF
sap and, with the green olive tree, obey
their Creators orders. They get from
earth and air only provisions for their
daily life-and strength and beauty. In
a perfectly natural way they reach
their highest perfection and glory. They
accommodate themselves 70 one another.
and share the bountles OF earth and air.
They are by nature free and equal.
.f,,1x Df IND
are faithful and devout worshippers OF
tle Sun-their light and life. They are
Rot busybodies. They don't even at
tend conventions, or go on foreign mis-
sions or serve on committees They arc
just poor vegetables, and do the best
they know how. In the volume of Ma
lures book 1t is written Of them that
they shall do the will Of Heaven, and
50 they pass their lives. And they are
not set down in history, and posterity
knows nothing Of them. And SO. I'M
recorded, they return TO dust and air
as myriads of men do.
SO generations in their course decay,
These come 70 life, while others pass
away.
Seeing, then. that we are comprised
about with so great a cloud Of witnesses,
kinsmcn Of the vegetable world, let us
lay aside our vain-gloriOus notions, our
restlessness, our ambitions 70 overtop,
and tangle and consume our neghbors,
or even TO set the world to rights, and
press our valuable services on the AL
mighty: and be willing to run With pa
tience our appointed course. Let us be
content with our cousins and fellows,
merely 20 grow. 10 feed from the hand
Of Heaven. and be watered and cult
waited by the watchful Gardener, and
do simple. daily duties. Who knows
how or when His winds may blow over
us, and bear from our poor bosoms
seeds OF our humble gathering and
growing. or doors Of His imparting.
fruits Of His light and life-liyed and
enjoyed under His countenance?
If we will be content merely TO grow
under His hand, who knows what use
He may choose to make Of US; what
fruit we may bring forth in our season?
The active workers may look down on
us; but the good people Of the vegeta-
BILE world viii not be ashamed OF US.
We may be happy under the vine and
fg-tree. that live as we do. The good
man out Of the good treasure OF his
heart brings forth that which is good,
his lowly unambitious. sincere gather
ings, with divine tact and tineliness.