Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1906-07-06
NATURE AS a CONSIDER
OF THE MIND.

OF THE MIND.
Each individual OF the human race
has retired apartment into which
none can entersbut himself, tis the
mind This apartment Is entirely 10
you'd the vision OF those around US
| NO eye can penetrate It's recesaes and
| NO keeneas OF mental vision can per
ce.vs The mosements therein. The
mind often grows tired and discoursg.
I'd and longs for . consoler and oom'
foster. IL 10 when the mind Is in this
condition that nature appeals to us
from the outside world. 1t Is she
when life grows burdensome who con-
soles 10 and gives us hope to live sgsin.
II is she who is siways ready TO take
us In her arms and comfort US as does
the gentle, patient, mother. Perhaps
q time weighs heavy upoa our brow
we may have cast her from memory.
but she is ever ready IT our summons
with her generous heart to Did us again
On lifes journey. 1t might be well To
cite a little incident from everyday life
Mind had become great need in the
world. When child nature had been
his dearest comp uion. but rs the tolls
and cares of manhood began TO weigh
upon him he had allowed himself to
dwell within the surroundings of the
business world. Many obstacles came
in his way aud at times he was almost
on the verge of mental collapse, but
never a consider did he have or strive
to find. One day tired out with his
labor he accidently came across
Thanatupsis, ''Oh" said he, how !
used to Gote upon that poem in my
college Gays. win read it ouce again
for old times sake" He read:
80 him who 10 the love of nature
holds communion with her visible
forms she speaks. ~
A various language; for his gayer hours
She has voice OF gladness, and q smile
And elcquence of beauty, aud she
glIdes
Into his darker musings with mild
And healing sympathy that steals away
Their sharpness ere be is aware.
He pauses and read again:
"Wheu thought makes thee to shud-
der and grow sick At heart; 60 forth
under the open sky, and list
To natures teachings, while from all
around
Earth and her naturs, and the depths
of air
Comes a still voice-the voice of nature
Calling
He opped reading and resolved to
go at once and heed natures teaehings
With ha. in hand he rushed forth to
the woodland, the home of nature
be arrived there tired and GREATNESS.
Nature saw him coming and knew by
wearied, but yet expectant look upon
his face the cause of his errand. She
babe him welcome, and he reclined up
on the mys ic coucn of mother earth.
How much like childhood days it
seemed TO him once more.
Nature was the first to speak, and to
him she said, "Oh mind didst thou
think that thou couldst succeed with
out my help and consolation? Oh no.
1t is nature that presides over all
earthly affairs and it is the higher
ideal in man that appeals to natuue for
solace. Yon o mind contemplated your
capabilities and lack of comforts in the
in the form of an idea and needs means
to realize. Only nature can please
those tastes which are imprejudice and
repired am thy CONSIDER and COM
forter," Mind arose rom the couch
from which he had been reclining and
said. "Ihe chormes of the mind are
imperishable, they bud and bloom in
youth and continue to flourish as long
as life remains provided nature watch
es over them with care. l now see my
mistake in life. Thou nature art my
goddess, 10 thy law my slruces are
bound"
Have you not at some unprecedented
time or place gone into the woods upon
a summers day weighed down with
the cares of life and sorrow and found
some comfort therein2
We should divest ourselves of a self
love and critically examine our mental
dwelling place. We should throw
open wide the windows of this habita-
ton that the grateful beams OF the
light of nature may shine in and irradi
cate every dark recess. As despair and
the evil passions are sometimes quite
eloquent and plausible in their appeals
and arguments for admission into our
mental abode, and as we are liable to
give way to them if we are not guard
ed ard acquainted with their real
character il is we'll for us to join hand
In hand with nature and sweetly sing
OF those pure lies of affection which
are capable OF uniting mao to his
brother ia bonds of kindness and good
will, and sing of that bright indissolu-
Vie chain OF mercy which forever links
the fate Of tas mind to the throne OF
emf mite goodness. In natures society
away from evil and pessimistic COM
munings there is pure elevated holy
Joy to be derived. With smile nature