15 



happy home of a grateful people. The forests have 

 abundant timber ; the mines of silver, and gold, and cop- 

 per, and lead, and iron, are the hidden treasures ; our 

 wheat fields, golden in harvest time; our meadows and 

 uplands are fertile and luxuriant, from the spring on the 

 mountain, to the river in the valley, producing every- 

 thing that ministers to the comfort of man, from the lakes 

 of the North to the Gulf, and from the Pine Tree State 

 to the Golden Gate. Look over the broad land. How 

 prodigal in fruits : apples and pears, apricots, peaches, 

 and grapes, melons, and cherries, and plums, oranges and 

 figs, and all the humbler fruits that with crimson and 

 purple hues, and choice, rare flavor, grace the table of 

 the humblest man who knows the royal privilege of own- 

 ing; a garden of his own. 



Man was created and placed in a garden, or, on a farm. 

 The fall of our first parents were less a mystery if the 

 Heavenly Parent had placed them in a palace, with lux- 

 ury, and wardrobes, laces and corsets, perfumes and cos- 

 metics. It shows the wisdom and love of God, that they 

 were placed in a home which was amid a garden of sweet 

 herbs — a blossoming paradise ; and their work was among 

 the growing crops, which give comfort and satisfy all 

 want. And away in the distance is a sure prophecy, and 

 it is still a garden. The blessed days will come again, 

 when the earth becomes a garden ; its deserts shall blos- 

 som as the rose. The wilderness shall be glad, the river 

 of life shall water it, the tree of life shall bear its fruit, 

 and life shall be glad forever. 



