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in man's earthly condition, and vainly thinks that after the 

 turmoil of life is over, the sleep of death will be more peaceful 

 in the midst of them. They love to see the sweetest flowers 

 blooming upon the graves of those fairer flowers, which per- 

 ished without maturing their fruit ; or shedding their fragrance 

 over those whose virtues still breathe a divine perfume to the 

 heart. They love that the birds should salute the humble 

 sleepers here with their thrilling morning hymn ; that the gen- 

 tle breezes of a summer's evening as they whistle through the 

 trees, should sing the requiem of the departed in jEolian strains ; 

 and that the unsullied snow should spread its mantle over vir- 

 tues as unsullied. They combine all the beautiful embellish- 

 ments of the country, as though out of nature's own unrival- 

 led materials they would build the palaces of the dead. 



What an eloquent tribute is this to the strong attractions and 

 the matchless glories of rural scenery and life ! How happy 

 would it be for thousands in our cities if they would yield ear- 

 lier to these impulses, and seek the country early fir the living 

 as they now seek it late for the dead. How happy would it be for 

 thousands, whom success has blessed with the means, if after 

 acquiring more than enough, they would quit the slavery and 

 drudgery of business, so often debasing to the mind and some- 

 times almost the extinction of the man, and find a rich enjoy- 

 ment in the embellishment of the country for the common and. 

 grateful delight of all who see it ; and in improving the culture 

 of the earth, for the sustenance and comfort of some portion of 

 the vast multitude, who are fed at this common table. 



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