THE BEAUTIFUL AND GOOD. Ill 



fruits and flowers reared by his own care, with congenial 

 friends, and a good conscience towards God and his fel- 

 low-men. And it has ever appeared to me tliat contentment 

 and happiness were easily to be acquired by all who really 

 love the cultivation of these lovely objects. And let me add, 

 that I know of no more grateful, and I was about to say, de- 

 votional feelings, than those which we enjoy at the close of 

 a quiet Sabbath summer day, when with wife and children we 

 stroll along the bordered flowery walks, or sit in sweet con- 

 verse under the umbrageous trees your hands have planted, 

 just as the declining sun is fringing the horizon Avitli rosy 

 promise of a fairer to-morrow, and parting day is ushering 

 universal nature to re^Dose. 



I have spoken thus freely of the benign influences of rural 

 life and rural pursuits, for I have ever believed that an inti- 

 mate relation exists between the beautiful, and things which 

 are morally good ; I trust therefore that my friends Avith whom 

 I have labored so long, will pardon me for the allusions to my- 

 self. From my early years I have been fond of contemplat- 

 ing the glorious works of creation and Providence. I love 

 the sublime as well as the beautiful in nature. I love to hear 

 the thunder roll its treble diapason through the skies. I love 

 to see the lightning flash its flery gleam from pole to pole, 

 and I delight to muse with nature in her more tranquil and 

 enchanting scenes of rural bliss. I love the genial spring, 

 filling the heart with joys renewed, and hopes of abundant 

 harvest ; the golden summer, marshalling its gorgeous retinue 

 of successive glories; the mellow autumn, pouring from her 

 horn of plenty thej-ipened treasures of the year. And espe- 

 cially do I love to be associated with the members of this 

 Board in efibrts to improve and increase the products of the 

 earth, — something to promote the comfort, happiness, and 

 welfare of my fellow-men, — something that shall live when 

 we are dead. 



