A story is told by the Rev. Silvester Horne of a college
professor who often told in the class-room of thoughts that
had come to him in the garden. The thoughts were often so
beautiful, and opened up such vistas to the imagination, that
the students, none of whom had visited the professor at his
home, pictured the garden a very Eden--spacious, and a glory of
trees and flowers. One day two of the students made a pretext
to visit the professor and get a glimpse, if possible, of the
garden. They were received and taken into the garden, which, to
their surprize, they found was the narrowest strip shut in by
high brick walls. “But, professor,” they said in their pained
disillusion, “surely this is not the garden you are always
talking about, in which such fine thoughts come to you?” “Oh,
yes, it is,” he said with a smile. “But it is so small. We had
imagined quite a large garden.” “But,” replied the professor,
pointing to the clear sky studded with stars, “see how high it
is!”
(3354)
* * * * *
The solar look is not only indicative of a desire in the individual to
aspire to great and noble attainments for himself, it is sure to lead
him to point out the upward pathway of the soul to others. Aspiration
is an inspiration to altruism.
One of the most beautiful works of the celebrated artist in
terra-cotta, George Tinworth, is his alto-rilievo of C. H.
Spurgeon representing the great preacher surrounded by the
children of Stockwell Orphanage, which he founded. Mr. Spurgeon
with a heavenly smile is pointing to the skies and the children
are gazing upward as he points. This statue is a vivid contrast
to the one which stands in a square in Northampton, the monument
to that pronounced infidel, Charles Bradlaugh, the “English
Ingersoll.” The statue represents Bradlaugh addressing the
people, but he is pointing directly downward. (Text.)
(3355)
* * * * *
Are not most of life’s fears due to the fact that we do not consider
enough what is above us? The remedy is to look up.
When a goose goes under an arch she ducks her head; that is not
because there is not space for her, but because she thinks there
is not, and that is because she is a goose. Perhaps she does not
see very clearly what is above her.--BOLTON HALL, “A
Little Land and a Living.”
(3356)
* * * * *
Francois de Bonnivard, whom Byron has immortalized in his
“Prisoner of Chillon,” was for many years immured in the dungeon
of the castle of Chillon, which lay below the level of Lake
Geneva, but from which he could hear the sound of the water
constantly. One day a bird came and sang at his window the
sweetest carol he ever heard. The music awakened within him an
inexpressible longing for a look at the outer and upper world,
all so free and bright to that bird. Digging a foothold in the
dungeon wall he climbed to the little window, from which he saw
the mountains of his beloved Switzerland, unchanged, capped with
eternal snow, and that upward look gave him new patience and
hope. (Text.)
(3357)
=Usage Rejected=--See EXPERIENCE A HARD TEACHER.
=Usefulness=--See SERVICE.