52 ATTACHMENT TO NATURE. 



kindled by the descendants of those whose ances* 

 tors tenanted his sides before Mexico was a city, or 

 the Atzec race had journeyed into central America. 



Now, whenever the globe speaks in unison from 

 every point of its surface, and history brings testi- 

 mony from its every page, we may rest assured that 

 there is more than common instruction in the tale ; 

 and, therefore, we should read and meditate upon 

 it with more than ordinary attention. And why is 

 it, that man not only clings with the greatest perti- 

 nacity to those places of the earth to which, as we 

 would say, nature has been the least bountiful, but 

 also loves them with the most heartfelt affection, and 

 acquires an elevation of mind, a determinedness of 

 purpose, and a joyance of spirit in them, more than 

 in places which abound far more in the good things 

 of this world * The facts are certain and absolute ; 

 for there is not one exception to them ; and there- 

 fore the lesson that they teach us must be wisdom. 

 It is wisdom, too, which bears directly upon our 

 present object; and it is wisdom which is soon 

 learned. 



It is simply this : that in those wild and, as we 

 would call them, barren places, man's chief occupa- 

 tion and converse are with nature: whereas, in 

 richer places, where there is more to tempt worldly 

 ambition and worldly enterprise, art is his chief 

 occupation, and becomes by habit his chief enjoy- 

 ment. Now, up to a certain point, and that as high 

 as you please, so that it is not exclusive, the prac- 

 tice of art is highly commendable ; and people can 

 never make too many useful things, make them too 

 well, or be too diligent, or take too much delight in 

 the making of them. It is that attention to art 

 which has made our country what it is, given to 

 the humblest of our cottagers comforts for which 

 the chiefs and kings of some tribes would be de- 

 lighted to change their kingdoms and thrones. Not 

 only that, but which, in absolute comfort, and in 



