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less plains of the Carolinas, whether he did not often sigh for 

 the refreshing verdure of his native hills and vales. Here is 

 something which a great English author has written concern- 

 ing this simple, but inestimable gift — the grass: 



** Consider what we owe merely to the meadow-grass, to 

 the covering of the dark ground by that glorious enamel, by 

 the companies of those soft and countless, and peaceful spears. 

 The fields ! Follow forth but for a little time the thoughts 

 that we ought to recognize in those words. All spring and 

 summer is in them — the walks by silent, scented paths — the 

 rest in noonday heat — the joy of herds and flocks — the power 

 of all shepherd life and meditation — the life of sunlight upon 

 the world, falling in emerald streaks, and falling in soft, blue 

 shadows where else it would have struck upon the dark mould 

 of scorching dust — pastures beside the pacing brooks — soft 

 banks and knolls of lowly hills — thymy slopes of down over- 

 looked by the blue line of lifted sea — crisp lawns all dim with 

 early dew, or smooth in evening warmth of barred sunshine, 

 dinted by happy feet, and softening in their fall the sound of 

 loving voices — all these are summed up in these simple words; 

 and these are not all. * * There are also several lessons sym- 

 bolically connected with this subject which we must not allow to 

 escape us. Observe the peculiar characters of the grass, which 

 adapt it especially for the service of men, are its apparent hu- 

 mility and cheerfulness. Its humility in that it seems created 

 only for lowest service — appointed to be trod upon and fed up- 

 on. Its cheerfulness, in that it seems to exult under all kinds 

 of violence and suffering. You roll it, and it is stronger the 

 next day ; you mow it, and it multiplies its shoots, as if they 

 were grateful ; you tread upon it, and it only sends up richer 

 perfumes. Spring comes, and it rejoices with all earth — glow- 

 ing with variegated flame of flowers — waving in soft depth of 

 fruitful strength." — Riiskiii. 



