IN THE FRONT YARD. 7 



it everywhere. It sits on the bow which fronts the 

 storm. You see it in those mountains of cloud dress- 

 ed in gorgeous robes of ruby, and opal, of amethyst 

 and gold, as they escort the retiring day to his cham- 

 bers in the West. The vast prairies when unvexed 

 by man were gardens of flowers. You plant an or- 

 chard and it is clothed with fragrant bloom in spring- 

 time, and in autumn it is a bouquet of loveliness with 

 its fruit of red and gold. 



God might have made the cherry, the peach, and the 

 apple the color of the stones, but he chose to feed the 

 eye as well as the palate. Through beauty he would 

 touch the soul. Put a man where you will, and there 

 will be some of the attractions of nature to welcome 

 him. The tropics are filled with flowers, and they 

 alternate in the hemispheres. They salute him in the 

 vast countries of the E'orth. How fascinating the 

 splendors of the aurora as they flash and flame on the 

 walls of the sky! The arch above us is kalsomined 

 with sapphire, and sprinkled with stars. Then the 

 gates of the future open before us on scenes of tran- 

 scendent loveliness. 



Why on earth in these mortal bodies do objects 

 diminish in ratio to distance ? Can you look the noon- 

 day sun out of countenance as it is? Suppose you 

 could see all things now in their full proportions. You 

 take one glance upward into the empires of glory, 

 where vast cities of stars are blazing and monster 

 worlds lie along the path of vision, and a single glance 

 would paralyze the strongest brain. 



