626 THE MOUNTAIN. 



be brought to bear upon those conditions of the organism, 

 to insure a return to the normal state. Especially does this 

 involve an abandonment of the predisponent and exciting 

 causes of chronic diseases, as of vicious and artificial habits, 

 and violation of the laws of nature. 



Thus, from all history, all science of man, from the depths 

 of existence, in all his relations to the world, is heard the 

 still small voice, the pleading prayer of nature, come to me 

 come back to the golden orient of your primal union with 

 me come back to the charmed realm of original life-foun- 

 tains come back from the wallows of sin come back from 

 the hot-beds of the artificial life come back to the little 

 child's simplicity and holiness, "for of such [only] is the 

 kingdom of heaven," of health, the paradise of rejuvenes- 

 cence of the body, and to such only shall be added the 

 perennial raptures of the normal or sound soul. The stern 

 command from the world of pain is, also, return to nature 

 let new life-currents stream through the weary and sick- 

 ened body let the cell, the original, the only focus of 

 renovation or germ of rejuvenescence, be bathed in a new 

 ocean of air, washed with purer, fresher water, startled by 

 a new galvanism, and be made quickly, freshly alive by a 

 new polarity of vital points. Bring all new influences to 

 bear upon the body in the charmed power of the country 

 life, the only medium of organic renovation. Go to the 

 woods and fields; go into the fresh and dewy haunts of 

 Pan; go to the rock, the roaring forest, the flowing river; 

 go to the dream-grotto of the poet; go to the first temples 

 of the gods, and your dust shall be renewed by a heavenly 

 metamorphosis, and the enchantments of health shall play 

 through your bones. Bring also the new influence to bear 

 upon the soul ; let a new world address the mind through the 

 avenues of the senses, as by new objects of beauty, freshness, 

 and sweetness ; let a new murmur of the leaf, and voice of 

 bird, and water-fall, charm the ear, whispering holy dreams ; 

 let the clouds float over the eye to the music of a new 

 melody, and a fresh world be redolent of all that breathes a 



