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THE GUIDE TO NATURE 
The Rock of Ages. 
Is there any hymn sung by Chris- 
tians that is more beloved than Rock 
of Ages? Probably not. A good many 
of those who sing it know that it was 
written some hundred and fifty years 
ago by an English clergyman, the Rev. 
Augustus Toplady, but fewer persons 
know that the hymn was the result of 
an actual experience of the author’s 
while he was curate in charge of the 
THE GREAT ROCK IN SOMERSETSHIRE, ENG- 
LAND, THAT INSPIRED THE WORDS, “ROCK 
OF AGES, CLEFT FOR ME.” 
parish of Blagdon, near Bristol. Air. 
Toplady was walking through the 
rough and hilly country of Somerset- 
shire not far from his parish when, in 
passing through the defile known as 
Burrington Combe, he was overtaken 
by a violent rainstorm. He found 
refuge from the weather in a deep cleft 
in the rocky side of the combe, and 
while he sheltered himself there the 
idea of the hymn entered his mind. It 
is not unusual for church people who 
love the hymn to make pilgrimages to 
the spot where it was composed. Our 
picture shows a group of pilgrims 
gathered at the foot of the riven rock. — 
t he Youth’s Companion. 
A Case of Ingratitude and Lack of 
Appreciation. 
A superlative Architect and Builder 
of pleasing surroundings permitted a 
family to occupy a wonderfully beauti- 
ful home and grounds for a period of 
time. The home was well equipped 
with innumerable attractions and beau- 
ties, and offered possibilities of inex- 
haustible enjoyment. Father, mother 
and the children were given full access 
to the beautiful grounds and to every 
room in this wonderful house. A rumor 
of remarkable ingratitude we have 
personally investigated and have found 
to be true. The man never even 
thought of the Owner nor of any of 
the beauties of the premises. He de- 
voted all his attention to piling up 
wealth in a near-by bank and what time 
was left he passed with his fellow asso- 
ciates in talking about foolish things of 
trivial importance. The woman met 
others of her set and devoted her time 
to shuffling colored bits of paper and in 
talking about the neighbors. They 
called it having a social time. The 
children were never encouraged to ap- 
preciate the grounds nor the home but 
ran with their mates here, there and 
everywhere in a thoughtless manner, 
neglecting all the wonderful entertain- 
ment that might have been secured in 
home and community by observing the 
varied environment. They devoted 
most of their time outside of some per- 
functory school work to children’s 
parties and lovesick stories of the 
movies. 
Where was this astonishing family 
and where was there such a beautiful 
home? Perhaps it is yours. And who 
was the kind Architect that provided 
it? You know Him. They talk about 
Him a little on Sundays and occasion- 
ally at a funeral. Ministers preach 
about Him and when they find some- 
body that really appreciates His beauti- 
ful home and the surroundings that He 
has provided for man, they think that 
some one is a little queer, but in fact 
everybody rvho does not appreciate this 
home of Mother Nature and its sur- 
roundings is queerer still. 
