202 WEST OXFORD SOCIETY. 



recedes. It is at this period that sailors on the ocean notice as it 

 were a breaking up of the waves, but only to be followed by three 

 larger ones in succession, which, with their accumulated force sweep 

 all before them. 



It is in this middle period, gentlemen, that so many farmers, a8 

 well as others, lose their courage, sell out their farms, and move to 

 the West, or "Nova Zembla, or the Lord knows where," only to 

 experience over again the first wave of prosperity. 



Do you see that little child just learning to walk ? It has stepped 

 one, two, three steps, and falls. It can never attempt a nobler act. 

 But all the efforts of an anxious parent cannot induce it for days to 

 repeat the experiment, until its accumulated energies urge it on to 

 renew the attempt, when to the delight of its parent it walks boldly 

 and successfully across the floor. 



A few years ago the plan was conceived of changing the direction 

 of the commerce of the St. Lawrence river, from Montreal to Port- 

 land. A railroad was commenced, and pushed on as far as the bound- 

 aries of this county. The middle period of its history had arrived. 

 Tor several years there was a stand still, until the waves of pros- 

 perity again pushed it through. Within the present year the grand 

 attempt has been undertaken to make a highway for nations along 

 the bottom of the broad Atlantic. Expectation was at its highest 

 pitch of excitement. The accumulated science of Europe and 

 America was brought into requisition to devise the best possible 

 means for its accomplishment. Poets sung of its praises in advance, 

 and orators did not fail to expend upon it the most glowing figures 

 of rhetoric, but, one morning in September, our ears were saluted 

 with the unwelcome news, that the cord had been snapped asunder in 

 mid ocean. It seemed as if a great national calamity had befallen 

 us, and the whole country felt like being shrouded in the habilli- 

 ments of mourning. But this is now the middle period of its history. 

 The magnificent project will yet be accomplished, and, what has 

 been done, be regarded only as a mere experiment. » 



Geological science declares, and Holy Writ seems to verify it, that 

 after the creation of this earth, there was a period of comparative 

 repose, a middle period, before the consummation of the glorious 

 work in the creation of man. 



Eighteen hundred and fifty-seven years ago, there appeared on 



