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GLEANINGS BY THE WAY;
BY REV. JOHN A. CLARK, D. D.,
_Rector of St. Andrew's Church, Philadelphia_,
AUTHOR OF "PASTOR'S TESTIMONY," "GLIMPSES OF THE OLD WORLD," ETC., ETC.
"Let me now go to the field and glean ears of corn." RUTH, ii. 2.
PHILADELPHIA:
W. J. & J. K. SIMON.
NEW YORK:
ROBERT CARTER.
1842.
Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1842, by
JOHN A. CLARK, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court in the
Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
PRINTED BY KING AND BAIRD.
PREFACE.
When it was not so common, as now, to issue publications from the press, a
book of any kind seldom made its appearance, without a PREFACE, to give the
reader some idea of its contents, and the history of its elaboration from
the author's mind. But at the present day, when authorship is no longer the
prerogative of the few, and the press teems with every species of
literature, preface writing has quite fallen into desuetude; not improbably
for the very solid and satisfactory reason that it would be a most
difficult, perplexing, and onerous business, to their several authors, to
assign any plausible grounds for the publication of one half of the volumes
that come forth in such immense shoals from the press.
We are certainly attached to the good old custom of having a preface,
although we are aware that many authors who omit this appendage, assign as
a reason, that the preface is the only part of a book that is never read.
This we think, in many instances, is not exactly true. There are those in
the present day, who like to know why a book was written, and what it
contains, before they begin to read it. By such knowledge--and this is
precisely the information a preface ought to convey--they avoid the trouble
of reading many a volume, which had the author been of the same mind, he
might have escaped the trouble of writing. To this class of readers the
preface is an important part of the book: while to those who eschew every
thing of this sort, it will give but little trouble, to turn over a leaf or
two to the commencement of the first chapter.
We did not mean, when we began, to write a defence of prefaces--but to
write a preface to our own work.
The name of this volume, GLEANINGS BY THE WAY, indicates the character of
the work. It consists principally of thoughts gathered up--and sketches of
scenery, and incidents, that came before the author during excursions made
into the country at different periods, within the last four years. For
several years the author has been labouring under infirm health, and has
found it necessary after encountering the heavy pastoral duties and labours
connected with a large city congregation for nine or ten months in
succession, to retire from the scene of his ministerial duties, and seek to
recruit his wasted strength and enfeebled health amid the retirement of
rural life, or the diversified scenes of travel and journeying. During
these seasons of relaxation, the author desired still to be engaged in
something that might at least indirectly promote the interests of religion.
This volume contains some of the things of which he at such seasons made a
record.
In the tour to the FAR WEST, made during the summer of 1837--and the sketch
that depicts the outline of the Mormon Delusion, the author cherishes the
hope that facts are brought to light that will interest a large class of
readers. And he also cherishes the hope that while these pages may interest
the general reader, may beguile a lonely hour--and attract the attention of
some who would not be likely to take up a more serious book--the tendency
of the whole volume will be to advance, at least indirectly, that cause
which lies so near to his heart. With this hope--and not with any
expectation of earning increased literary reputation, he sends forth these
GLEANINGS BY THE WAY.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. 13
_The Three Gleaners._
CHAPTER II. 25
_Views of Pennsylvania_:--Tour to Harrisburgh--Aspect of the country--The
Valley of the Susquehanna--The passage of the River--The
Valley of the Juniata--Huntingdon--The Rev. John W. James--His
sudden exit.
CHAPTER III. 32
_Glimpses of Western Pennsylvania_:--Source of the Juniata--Ascent of the
Alleghanies--The summit--The Great Mississippi Valley--Skepticism--Rank
growth of religious error--Dunkards--Valley of the Conemaugh--
Moonlight--Singular conversation--Infidel sneers.
CHAPTER IV. 42
_Pittsburg and its environs_:--First view of Pittsburg--Its general
aspect--Sabbath and its employments--An affecting incident--Orphan
children--A Christian father in the midst of his children on the Sabbath.
CHAPTER V. 49
_Voyage on the Ohio_:--Travelling companions--Steamboats on the Ohio--The
Elk--The Ohio river--The Harmonists--Steubenville--Wheeling--Marietta--
Portsmouth--Kentucky--The dead steamboat captain--Kentucky funeral.
CHAPTER VI. 62
_A glimpse of Kentucky_:--Cincinnati--The Queen city--Views in reference
to missionary labour--The kind of missionaries wanted in the great
Valley--Walnut Hills--Lane Seminary--Dr. Beecher--Woodward College--Dr.
Aydelott--The old Kentucky man--Louisville--The Galt House--View
of the interior of Kentucky--Plantations--A sore evil--Kentuckian
traits of character--A thrilling incident.
CHAPTER VII. 75
_The Ohio near its mouth_:--New Albany--Sailing down the
Ohio--Profanity--Lovely views of nature--A sudden squall on the
river--Kentucky shore--Young fawn--The mouth of the Tennessee river--The
swimming deer--His struggle and capture--Meeting of the waters of the Ohio
with the Mississippi--Gambling--Intemperance--Sail up the Mississippi to
St. Louis.
CHAPTER VIII. 88
_The Mississippi and some of its tributaries_:--St. Louis--Roman
cathedral--Desecration of the Sabbath--Golden sunsets--Sail up the
Mississippi--The meeting of the waters of the Missouri and the
Mississippi--Alton--The burning prairie.
CHAPTER IX. 105
_Further views on the Mississippi_:--Des Moines River--Iowa--Group of
Indians--Tributary streams to the Mississippi--Galena--Bishop of Illinois--My
sister's grave.
CHAPTER X. 114
_Illinois and the Lakes_:--Lead mines--Indian treaty--Ride to Chicago--Vast
prairies--The stricken family--Amusing adventures--Chicago--Milwaukie--
Mackinaw--Indian encampment.
CHAPTER XI. 126
_Michigan_:--Steamboat travelling upon the western Lakes--The waters of
Huron--Saginaw Bay--The stormy night--The beautiful St.
Clair--Detroit--Bishop of Michigan--Ypsilanti--Ann Arbour--Ore
Creek--Bewildered at night in the woods--Rescue--Meeting of friends--Log
Cabin.
CHAPTER XII. 140
_Tour from the West_:--The Romanists--Miracles--Indians--Captain
M---- The unhappy sailor--Toledo--Cleveland--Buffalo--Niagara
Falls.
CHAPTER XIII. 151
_Western New York_:--Niagara Falls--Rochester--Canandaigua--Geneva--Seneca
Lake--The moonlit heavens--Departed friends--The clergyman's son--The
candidate for the ministry--A beloved brother--My departed mother--Geneva
College--The Sabbath.
CHAPTER XIV. 161
_A jaunt from Philadelphia to Albany_:--A bleak, dreary morning--Bishop
of Illinois--Sail up the Delaware--New York Bay--Sail up the
Hudson--Unexpected meeting--College friend--Story of his afflictions--Poor
African servant.
CHAPTER XV. 171
_The Irish couple_:--Albany--The Irish mother--Incidents that occurred
five years ago--The disappointed emigrants--The Little Falls--Rural
retirement.
CHAPTER XVI. 179
_Western New York._
CHAPTER XVII. 181
_A Summer Tour_:--Retirement--Seneca Lake--Burlington, N. J.--Brooklyn,
N. Y.
CHAPTER XVIII. 187
_Green Wood Cemetery_:--Brooklyn--Improvements--Ride--Approach
to the Cemetery--Views--Beautiful scenes.
CHAPTER XIX. 193
_Rhode Island_:--Sail up the Sound--Burning of the
Lexington--Providence--Meeting of old friends--Mr.
Emerson--Transcendentalism--Westerly.
CHAPTER XX. 201
_The sudden storm_:--Rapid travelling--Auburn--Stage coach--Seneca
Lake--Summer's sultry heat--Sudden change--Fierce tempest--Imminent
peril.
CHAPTER XXI. 205
_Reminiscences of the past_:--Sunday--Sacred worship--The sanctuary
recalling youthful scenes--Early plighted vows at the table of the
Lord--Retrospect--Mournful reflections--Change in the congregation--Mr. and
Mrs. N---- The C---- family--Col. T---- Village burial ground--C---- The
buried pastor--My Mother--Palmyra--Early ministerial labours--Lyons.
CHAPTER XXII. 216
_The Origin of the Mormon Delusion_:--The golden Bible--Moral, political,
and numercial importance of the Mormon sect--Views of Revelation--Causes
that have contributed to spread Mormonism--Martin Harris--Interview
with the author--Transcripts from the golden Bible--Jo
Smith, the Mormon prophet--His early history--First pretended revelation--His
marriage--Chest containing the golden Bible--Attempts to
disinter it--Consequence--Delusion of Harris--Translation and publication
of the _Book of Mormon_.
CHAPTER XXIII. 232
_A letter written by Professor Anthon_:--The circumstances that led to
this letter--Martin Harris--His visit to New York--Interview with Dr.
Mitchell--Professor Anthon.
CHAPTER XXIV. 239
_The Mormon, or Golden Bible_:--The origin of the Book of Mormon--The
statement of Mr. Isaac Hale, father-in-law of the Mormon Prophet--Rev.
Mr. Spalding's Historical Romance--Mrs. Davison's statement--The
blindness of Martin Harris--Testimony of the three witnesses--The
eight witnesses.
CHAPTER XXV. 259
_Mormon Jesuitism_:--Denial of Mrs. Davison's statement in reference
to the origin of the Mormon Bible--The truth of her statement corroborated
by a letter from the Rev. John Storrs--By another from the Rev.
D. R. Austin.
CHAPTER XXVI. 268
_Analysis of the Book of Mormon._
CHAPTER XXVII. 285
_Analysis of the Book of Mormon continued._
CHAPTER XXVIII. 304
_Farther developments in relation to the Mormon imposture._
CHAPTER XXIX. 311
_Organization of the Mormons, and their removal to Ohio_:--Steps leading
to the Mormon emigration to the West--Conversion of Parley P. Pratt--Mission
to the Lamanites--Sidney Rigdon--His avowed conversion--Fanatic
scenes at Kirtland--Dr. Rosa's letter--Mr. Howe's statement--Smith's
removal.
CHAPTER XXX. 323
_Mormon emigration to Missouri_:--Mission to Missouri--Causes that led
to emigration--Settlement at Independence--Change in operations--Gift
of tongues--Rule for speaking and interpreting.
CHAPTER XXXI. 331
_Mormon Banking_:--The prophet's attempt at financiering--Mr. Smalling's
letter.
CHAPTER XXXII. 337
_The Mormon Prophet and his three witnesses_:--An interesting public
document--The Danite band--Testimony of Dr. Avard--Paper drafted
by Rigdon.
CHAPTER XXXIII. 345
_Concluding sketch in relation to Mormonism._
GLEANINGS BY THE WAY.
CHAPTER I.
THE THREE GLEANERS.
Nature has a voice to instruct, as well as charms to please. No one can
walk over the surface of this earth, and gaze upon the objects and scenes
that every where cluster around him, and not hear her instructive voice
echoed upon his ear from ten thousand points, unless stupidity, or sin have
sealed up his senses, and made him deaf as "the adder that stoppeth her
ear, and will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so
wisely."
Providence, too, has a voice, that speaks with trumpet-tongue in the ear of
those who watch the movement of human events--_who regard the work of the
Lord, and consider the operation of his hands_. The fall of every leaf--the
opening of every grave, the subversion of kingdoms--the overthrow of
empires--every event transpiring around us, reads us a lesson full of deep
and solemn instruction.
In the various and diversified developements of human character--whether
contemplated in its rougher, or more polished state, there is a vast deal
presented to view, from which an intelligent mind may gather very important
elements of instruction.
One who keeps his eye out upon these various fields, will scarcely fail to
GLEAN something every day, either from nature, or Providence, or the
different and ever varying phases of human character, that can be turned to
a profitable account both for instruction and pleasure.
There are, however, different kinds of GLEANING--and different kinds of
GLEANER. The caption to this chapter contains an implied pledge, that there
is to be brought before the eye of the reader three successive
GLEANERS.--And so we intend it shall be. We will at once introduce you to
the first of the three.
* * * * *
Some sixteen hundred years before the first advent of the Lord's ANIONTED,
there lived in Bethlehem a man of wealth and distinction. He possessed
extensive flocks and herds, and fields, and all the usual resources of
oriental riches. Palestine was then the land that _flowed with milk and
honey_. Though there had been periods when for the sins of the people the
heavens were shut, and the dews and rains withheld--till the blight of
sterility seemed to have impressed its dreary iron aspect upon every
smiling valley and sunny hill:--at the time to which we refer it was not
so. That whole region then poured forth its productions most luxuriantly,
for the blessing of the Lord was upon the land. And now the season of the
barley harvest had arrived, and the reapers went forth with their sickles
to cut down the bearded and bending grain.
This opulent citizen of Bethlehem, to whom we have referred, when the
rising sun, ascending the deep blue arch of heaven and pouring its full
orbed radiance over hill and dale, had drank up the dew drops of morning,
rode forth into the country amid vine-clad hills, and beneath groves of
olive and palm till he reached his own paternal estate. The bright luminary
of day now poured down a full tide of heat and effulgence over the whole
surrounding scene. The reapers were plying their glittering steel, and
gathering the falling grain into sheaves. The sound of rustic music came
upon his ears as he rode along through the fields. It was the song of the
reapers. He approached them. They were his own hired servants. Though they
were poor, and had to toil for their daily bread, their wealthy employer
did not despise them. He was one who feared the Lord, and saw in every
human form a brother. Kind were his words as he approached the reapers, and
full of pious sentiment--for his salutation was, _The Lord be with you_.
Those sun-burnt and swarthy laborers, suspending for a moment their toil,
respectfully and piously responded, _The Lord bless thee_. I know not what
other pleasant discourse followed. An object of deep interest now presented
itself to the rich owner of these grounds. In a distant part of the field
was to be seen the slender and delicate form of a young female walking
hither and thither to gather up the scattered heads of barley that had
escaped the hand of the reaper. Then said he to his servant who was set
over the reapers: _Whose damsel is this?_ And he replied, _It is the
Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi_.
That lone female, whose hand was gathering the scattered heads of barley,
had known better days. She had been nursed in the lap of ease. She dwelt in
Moab. A stranger came there. He had been reared near Siloa's sacred stream.
He had been instructed in the divine law and his intellect had been
beautified and expanded, and his heart softened and refined by its heavenly
teaching. He was young and beautiful, and full of manly dignity. This
interesting Moabitess saw the stranger. His dark lustrous eye met hers with
an interest that mutually increased till love burned bright in both their
bosoms. They were joined in wedded love, and her Mahlon was all her own!
No, not all--for death, the insatiable archer, had fixed his eye upon him.
Only a short period elapsed, and Mahlon was numbered with the dead! She saw
his bright eye forever shut, and the dark grave closing over his pale,
unbreathing corse.
Mahlon had a father, but he too had found a grave in that Moabitish land
where they now sojourned. Mahlon had a brother, but that brother had fallen
beneath the shaft of death, and his dust slumbered fast by the side of his
dead father. Mahlon had a mother. Poor lone widow! Her name was once
Naomi--PLEASANT, but now she chose to be called Mara--BITTER--for _the
Almighty had dealt very bitterly with her_. She had buried all she most
loved in a stranger land. Why should she not now return to her native
land--to the altars of her fathers--and the home of her childhood?
Shall she go alone? No--not while Mahlon's widow lives. The hour of
parting came. Her two daughters-in-law--for both of her sons had taken them
wives in the land of Moab--had already accompanied her several miles on her
way to the land of her nativity. But the moment of separation had now come!
They stood under a cluster of palms--a cool, refreshing spring sent forth
its waters which flowed and gurgled along beside them. All nature smiled
around them, but their hearts were sad. This widowed, childless
mother--after a long painful struggle of silent feeling, said unto her two
daughters-in-law, _go return each to your mother's house_. _The Lord deal
kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead and with me._ Then she
kissed them each. And they lifted up their voice and wept. How could they
part? They said, _surely we will return with thee unto thy people_.--And
she said--nay--I have nothing to offer you: I go back to my country stript
of friends, and substance. Therefore turn again my daughters, why will ye
go with me?
The deep fountains of feeling were again broken up, and they again lifted
up their voices and wept. Then Orpah clasping the mother of her buried
Chilion in her arms, fell on her neck, and, sobbing long and loud, kissed
her and bid her a final adieu.
Not so the beautiful, but now faded and care-worn Ruth. Hers was a love
stronger than death. Many waters could not drown it. She refused to
separate herself from the mother of him she had loved. They still lingered
under the shade of the clustering palms. Orpah had taken her final leave,
and her retiring form had now vanished from their view. The sad widowed
mother, now preparing to start on her way, again addressed Ruth, still
lingering at her side--_Behold thy sister-in-law has gone back unto her
people, and unto her gods. Return thou after thy sister-in-law._
But the fair and lovely Moabitess nobly replied--_Entreat me not to leave
thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I
will go; and where thou lodgest I will lodge: thy people shall be my
people, and thy God my God; where thou diest I will die, and there will I
be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part
thee and me._ So onward they two went together to the holy land. It was the
beginning of the barley harvest when they reached Bethlehem. They were
quite destitute, and scarcely knew how they were to provide themselves with
the means of subsistence. But the eternal God in whom they trusted, and who
feeds the fowls of the air, clothes the grass of the field, and decks the
expanded petals of the lily with hues more brilliant and beautiful than
those reflected from the shining robes of royalty--had not forgotten the
poor--had not forgotten to insert in his law _when ye reap the harvest of
your land--thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of the field, neither
shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest_. * * * _Thou shalt leave
them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God._ This divine
injunction was reiterated again and again. _When thou cuttest down thine
harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not
go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and
for the widow; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the works of
thine hands._ Here was a merciful provision for the poor. The devoted
Moabitess who had left country and home for her love to Naomi, was not
backward in offering to go forth to glean in the field after the reapers.
It was on this errand, that she walked into the country, and patiently
toiled beneath the rays of the scorching sun.
It was while thus engaged, that Boaz, the rich Bethlehemite, came to his
reapers, and first saw the lovely stranger. How she afterwards sped, those
acquainted with the sacred story need not be told. It only remains for us
to add, that she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out all that she
had gleaned: and it was an ephah of of barley. And she took it up and went
into the city; and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned; and she
brought forth and gave to her that she had received after she was sufficed.
And her mother-in-law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to-day? and
where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee!
This is the first of the three Gleaners. The story of the two that follow
will be much shorter.
* * * * *
Circumstances, several years since, led the writer to spend a few days in a
secluded little village, in a very retired and beautiful part of the
country. It was in the month of August, when the indications of summer were
seen on every side--the wheat fields were ready for the hand of the reaper,
and during the livelong day there seemed no cessation to the tide of heat
that came flowing down from the sun, overwhelming the broad earth and every
creature that moved upon it with his fervid influence. The early dawn of
morning, and the hour of twilight at the decline of day, seemed to be the
only seasons, when one could walk forth with any comfort, to enjoy the
rural scenery, that the hand of the Creator had spread with surpassing
loveliness around this spot. These seasons were not allowed to pass
unimproved. The first morning that I walked forth--while the grey twilight
still lingered on hill and dale--casting a sombre, dusky aspect over
surrounding objects, as I passed along, refreshed by the fragrant breath
exhaled from the fields, cheered by the notes of the feathered tribe who
were chanting their early matin lays, and enamored with the glorious scene
pencilled on the eastern sky, which brightened and kindled into broader
lines of orient radiance every step I took, and every moment I gazed, I saw
a young lad, some twelve or thirteen years old, passing by me with a brisk
step, but stooping every now and then, to gather up some straws of wheat,
that lay scattered along the road. The occurrence, however, awakened no
particular attention, and would have been forgotten, had not the same thing
been observed in the evening. In returning to my lodgings, after a ramble
over the fields on the evening of the same day, I met this boy with quite a
bundle of wheat under his arm, moving with a quick step, but stopping every
now and then to gather up a single straw that lay in the road.
The next morning, the circumstance had quite passed out of my mind, till
suddenly and unexpectedly the form of this boy again appeared before me. He
was still occupied in the same manner. He seemed in a great hurry, and yet
he stooped to pick up every straw that lay in his path. I felt an unusual
curiosity to learn his history, and the motives that influenced his
conduct. Upon inquiry, I was made acquainted with the following facts. This
lad was an orphan boy, who resided in an old cottage, about a mile distant
from where I met him, with an aged grand-mother, who was blind, and very
poor. Her children had all gone down to the grave, and this boy was the
only representative of her family. The old blind cottager, was one who
trusted in the Lord, and believed that he did all things well. She tried to
train up her child to a life of industry and early piety. He was a
promising lad and seemed disposed to aid his aged grand parent, and
contribute to her comfort by every means in his power. Every evening he
would read to her out of God's holy book, and in the day he sought some
occupation by which he could contribute to her maintenance. At the time I
fell in with him, he was in the employ of a wealthy farmer, assisting in
securing the wheat harvest. This farmer resided in the outskirts of the
village, while the broad fields which he cultivated, lay abroad in
lengthening expansion and beauty in the immediate vicinity of his dwelling.
Several of his barns were contiguous to his dwelling, so that the wheat
when harvested, was principally conveyed from the field where it grew,
along the road on which I had taken my walks, to these barns. Hence as one
loaded wane after another was driven along, the whole road became strewed
with heads and stalks of wheat. This lad, to whom I have referred, rose a
half an hour earlier in the morning to go on his way to his daily toil, and
lingered a half an hour later at evening on his way homeward to his nightly
couch, in order to gather up these wheat stalks that had fallen by the way.
These wheat gleanings thus gathered up by the way he every night carried
home with him and subsequently threshed, and by steady perseverance in this
course was able to obtain a considerable quantity of grain, to afford bread
both for himself and his aged grand parent. Was not this a beautiful
instance of filial piety? This is the story of our second GLEANER--one who
GLEANED BY THE WAY.
* * * * *
Some twelve years since, it was our happiness, to have met a very
remarkable man, who seemed to live for one single purpose. He possessed
naturally great strength and brilliancy of intellect. While yet a child, a
highly gifted mother had laid her plastic hand upon his character, and so
directed his education as to bring out the highest powers of his mind in
symmetrical development. Thus through the educational advantages he
enjoyed, he was prepared to make large attainments, and to gather much
information from every field of knowledge through which he walked. As he
grew up, he became furnished with most ample stores of learning. He had the
power to instruct and to please, and was eminently fitted to act upon other
minds. Added to all this--he was a Christian. He had felt the power of a
Saviour's love, and had consecrated himself to his service. To him had been
committed the ministry of reconciliation, and he was acting as the legate
of the skies--the ambassador of the King of kings. This was his business.
All the powers of his mind were consecrated to the work of winning souls to
Jesus. He still moved around in society. He was still the charm of every
circle in which he was found. He did not always speak upon religion. He did
not always stand before his fellow men in the attitude of a preacher. He
travelled; for his health required it. He walked out into the fields. He
looked abroad over the face of nature. He moved amid the circles of his
fellow men. He engaged in literary pursuits and scientific investigations.
But he pursued nothing to the neglect of ministerial duty. And from every
circle in which he moved, from every scene he witnessed, from every company
he met, from every field he trod, from every object to which he turned his
eye, from every investigation in which he engaged, he gleaned something, by
which to throw new charms around religion, and enable him to reach minds
through new channels. He never for one moment lost sight of his great
business--but was all the time steadily moving forward to the attainment of
the object for which he lived and laboured. All his pursuits--all his
enjoyments, all his recreations, were made to contribute at least
indirectly to the furtherance of that great object. Like the wheat gleaning
boy, he went to his daily labour, and relaxed no effort in the business of
prosecuting prescribed ministerial duties, yet while going to and from
these duties, he GLEANED BY THE WAY. Every flower that spread its expanded
petals before his eye, every breath of music that fell upon his ear, every
dew drop that glittered in the beams of morning, every little tiny insect
that flitted across his path, every landscape that stretched before him,
every mountain and hill that pointed upward to heaven, every forest and
stream on which his eye rested, every star that hung out its golden lamp on
the sable curtain of night, every interview of friendship, every
vicissitude of life, every incident of travel, every occurrence whether
pleasing or painful, presented to his enriched intellect some new aspect of
thought, from which he could glean materials for the instruction of other
minds. Thus he GLEANED BY THE WAY. And through THESE GLEANINGS he acted
upon a thousand minds, that he could not otherwise have reached. He has
gone to his reward. He sleeps in the silent sepulchre. But _though dead, he
yet speaketh_. A thousand flowers gathered by his hand from the fields of
literature and the scenes of active life, and by his hand planted in the
garden of the Lord, still remain, and from their contiguity to Siloa's
sacred font, and the blood-stained cross, they bloom with brighter tints,
and richer fragrance, and still lead many to approach and fix their eye on
that blessed cross, and ultimately to feel its transforming power. This is
the history of our third GLEANER. And from the history of the three, our
readers will be at no loss to determine what suggested to us the idea of
entitling this volume GLEANINGS BY THE WAY.