REV. GEO. B. PRATT. 8 1 



with the clouds, to navigate space above us, to girdle the 

 world in forty minutes — nay, to reach the stars. The balloon- 

 ists are working at the problem. They die by scores, in 

 what we perhaps justly call extremely foolish attempts. 

 But I remember that Franklin was called the greatest of 

 cranks and esteemed a madman when he first experimented 

 with the kite-string and electricity. The conditions of 

 aerial navigation are no more complex than those of all 

 traveling. Wings are the fondest desire of our hearts. 

 This has been so ever since a certain author wrote, " Oh ! 

 that I had the wings of a Dove." Will the Dove ever find 

 an electric bird of man's inventi,on flying by its side ? 

 Angels have always been pictured with wings. Birds are 

 angels in disguise. If I could believe in the transmigration 

 of souls, I should say, " put me into the body and seal upon 

 me the wings of a Wood Thrush, which has a song equal to 

 its wings, that I may have music by the way." 

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