288 
THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
if there were no vapory atmosphere to soften 
its beams; and, on the other hand, of the dull 
metallic gray clouds that would mantle the 
earth if reflection and refraction did not dif¬ 
fuse the light and paint on the vapory canvas 
their resplendent aerial pictures. What the 
flowers are to the fields and the birds to the 
groves, such are the rainbows and sunsets to 
the heavenly landscapes—God’s grace in forms 
of beauty and loveliness to teach us the higher 
and spiritual purposes of Nature. 
The essential material wants of man are 
but few, and supplied with comparative ease 
by the ever-bountiful hand of God. A flock 
of sheep or a field of corn, an animal’s skin or 
a coarse garment, a hut of bark or blocks of 
snow, and man can live. 
‘ Man wants but little here below, 
Nor wants that little long.’ 
Turn now to the higher and more gracious pro¬ 
vision for awaking the soul to impulses of de¬ 
light and gratitude. In this God-like benevo¬ 
lence, how numberless and varied are the ob¬ 
jects ! 
