2IO FROM A NEW ENGLAND HILLSIDE. 



bustle upon its streets, nor in the gaudiness 

 of its decorations. 



I think that one of the most singular ex 

 hibitions of folly that we have ever seen 

 was the struggle which followed the late 

 census, the emulation between different lo 

 calities, each seeking to establish its supe 

 riority by enumerating the bodies, not the 

 souls, of its inhabitants. As if a hundred 

 underfed, undereducated, undeveloped, and 

 unhappy families were worth one homely, 

 quiet household, full of the joy of life 

 and love and helpfulness ! As if the ideal 

 toward which the world is struggling were 

 a nest of squirming maggots ! 



It seems to me that there has been a 

 little chastening of this spirit within these 

 later years, and that quality is gradually 

 attaining something of its rightful recog 

 nition as compared with quantity. And 

 we, as we think of our pleasant old village, 

 and its quiet, shady street, and consider 

 the desolation that might come to it, turn 

 from the gifts which the interlopers bring 

 to us, and ask instead, &quot; Beauty for ashes, 

 the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of 

 praise for the spirit of heaviness.&quot; 



AUGUST 3, 18W. 



