IO 



intoxicating fluid which lured the captive insects to their doom, 

 grew in the swamps below, where fair Arethusa displayed her 

 peerless charms, and a host of floral treasures rewarded the bota- 

 nist who searched for them. 



Midway between the Twin Sentinels, are the Cascade rocks, 

 over which the descending streams from the hills fall in a series 

 of beautiful cascades; and beyond lies the great wilderness to- 

 wards which we are wending our way. 



As we reach the road which winds by the hills, we halt 

 between two inclinations, that of ascending Black Rock, as the 

 southern elevation is called, and that of visiting the cascades. 



How hard it is to resist the first inclination. Who has not 

 noticed with what eagerness the majority of almost any number 

 of persons visiting the neighborhood of a high eminence for the 

 first time, hasten to gain the highest point on its summit before 

 exploring the woods around its base. 



I have known those who would rush by the most charming 

 things, trampling under foot the loveliest flowers and ferns in 

 their haste to accomplish such a purpose. 



To what else can this feeling be referred than to the intuitive 

 heavenward aspirations of the human soul. Mark how the 

 5 Thrafher seeks the highest branches of tall trees when pouring 

 forth his morning and evening devotions; if perchance, he alights 

 on some lower branch and begins his song, how uneasy at once 

 he becomes, as if under the restraining influence of some power 

 that prevents him from giving full utterance to his feelings. 

 Thrashing his wings impatiently he rises higher and still higher, 

 increasing the vehemence of his out- pourings with increasing 

 altitude, until the highest spray is reached, when with wide 

 distended throat and quivering frame he pours forth all his soul 

 in exultation and joy. 



So it is with the human soul; overshadowed by the depressing 

 influences of daily life, its aspirations become fettered and kept 

 down; but when on some day of relaxation, we go out into the 

 grand temples of Nature, and stand in the presence of her sacred 

 altars, the divine sense of freedom comes over us and our buoy- 

 ant spirits turn our feet into wings as we ascend with our soul's 

 offerings to the Great Creator. 



