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fearlessly aloft to catch the swift lightning or the dread tempests of 
heaven, the gurgling spring, the winding rivulet, the silver lake, and the 
glossy pebbles that lie along its shore; and the finny tribes that gam¬ 
bol in its waters—the rock that some mysterious power has rent in 
twain—these vast prairies that tell of lakes, perchance of seas, that 
rolled their crested waves far above where now lie cultivated fields— 
these artificial mounds grouped here and there like the tents of wander¬ 
ing tribes, covering themselves with the soil of ages, upon the summits 
of which stand majestic trees, whose circles number centuries, and be¬ 
neath the roots of which lie buried the bones of mighty warriors—the 
sun that shines by day—the moon and stars that illume the night—the 
deep blue sky, and fleecy clouds above him—each blade of grass that 
springs unnoticed by his silent paths; these, all these teach him a lesson : 
any one of them contains a mystery that the mightiest intellect in the 
land might well be proud to solve. Can man be constantly surrounded 
by things like these and not grow wiser and better ? 
A false impression in regard to the dignity of labor has obtained to no 
small extent in this country, and it has worked its own peculiar evils. Of 
the two, these evils have been the most serious among that sex, which 
is naturally the most modest, retiring and anxious to please. Though 
less in the West than in any other part of our country, they are not en¬ 
tirely wanting here. They are seen in that unwillingness to be found 
attending to the duties of the household, that hurry-scurry that follows 
the sudden advent of a visitor—every thing that w'ould betoken labor 
being quickly put aside, even to the hiding of one’s self for a season in 
order to appear in a dress and style better suited to the ball room than 
the kitchen. It is not with pale faces, delicate hands, curls, silks, satins 
and ribbons that men of sense are pleased. Fops, w*ho twirl bronze 
headed canes and sport gilded chains are the creatures that these, the 
offspring of a sickly sentimentality attract. Nature’s noblemen, one good 
opinion from whom is worth ten thousand half-starved compliments from 
a dandy, care not for the exterior if they but find real worth within. 
Nature has so fashioned us, that physical labor is congenial with our 
health and happiness. No one can fully enjoy the functions of life, 
without bodily exercise—not only exercise, but labor, such as strength¬ 
ens and perfects. Where do we find that blooming cheek, that smiling 
