274 SELECTIONS FROM ADDRESSES. 



of true glory, than to follow the stripes and stars from Labrador 

 to Cape Horn ! In the coming age of improvement, who shall 

 say, that to subdue and eradicate one of these pests to the farm- 

 er, will not bring as bright a chaplet of fame, as it now can do, 

 to trample down a human foe ? Who shall say, that he who 

 shall prove himself foremost in peaceful labors like these, that 

 exalt human happiness, may not reap the highest gift of a grate- 

 ful country, as surely as he who holds himself ready to barter 

 his conscience in the shambles of party, or risk his life in the 

 barbarous perils of war 1 



But to whatever pitch of improvement other portions of our 

 great and highly favored country may attain, none can doubt, 

 that this particular section of it is destined to maintain a proud 

 preeminence. Nature herself doth here stimulate man to put 

 forth his noblest efforts ; for she gives him a surface to act upon, 

 where she has lavished her most abundant gifts. She has made 

 the Connecticut valley the glory of the land ; and she has cast 

 the outlines of this portion of it, in her most bewitching mould. 

 So fraught with beauty is it even, that the passing traveller 

 chides that noisy power of modern improvement, which sweeps 

 him too quickly along, where he would fain linger, in silent ad- 

 miration or calm delight. 



" Enchanting vale ! beyond whate'er the muse 

 Has of Achaia or Hesperia sung ! 

 O vale of bliss ! softly swelling hills ! 

 On which the power of cultivation lies, . 

 And joys to see the wonders of his toil. 

 O what a goodly prospect spreads around, 

 Of hills and dales and woods and lawns and spires, 

 And glittering towns and gilded streams, till all 

 The stretching landscape into smoke decays !" 



