LITTLE THINGS VERSUS TRIFLES.

Original

BY T. C. O'KANE.

"Despise not the day of small things."-SOLOMON.

"Parva non semper nugæ sunt."-ANON.

WHEN Fulton, one morning, in his boyish days, was partly experimenting, and partly playing, with the tea-kettle, far from his thoughts, or those of his parent, were the grand discoveries to which that act was about to conduct him. And when his mother reproved him for spending his time in such a manner, she was not aware that the ebullitions of genius were exhibited in that childish and trifling act. But ere many years had glided away, the vail was removed, when they, together with an astonished multitude, beheld the wonder-working power of that genius, in that seemingly self-impelled vessel moving rapidly over the surface of

"The Hudson's sleeping waters;"

showing its internal commotion and exertion, by ever and anon belching forth columns of darkened smoke and watery vapor. It was truly a novel and entertaining sight, and struck every beholder with amazement. But still greater would have been their wonder, had they known in how little a circumstance such a display had originated. And so frequent is it, that little things suggest things of great importance, or in their effects bring about great results, that long since it has passed into a proverb, "Little things are not always trifles."

See that tall and majestic pine, shooting perpendicularly upward, as if to bathe its nodding crest in clouds of gorgeous hue. Look at the small germ whence it originated, and call it a "trifle." Behold yon oak, with widely-extended branches and deeply-seated roots, and in its strength seeming to defy the power of the storm, and the destructive fierceness of the hurricane. Go, and examine whence it

sprang, and wonder. On its branches can be seen thousands of its own species in embryo.

"Large streams from little fountains flow;

Tall oaks from little acorns grow."

We stand upon the shore of the billowy deep, and view, with mingled emotions of awe and pleasure, the rolling of the expanded river into the sky-blue ocean. From afar the current comes flowing past, bearing upon its bosom the merchandize and products of various climes, and furnishes a highway for nations. Let it be traced to its source, where a child may leap across the channel, and where a leaf is scarcely borne along in the rippling flow, and then will it be acknowledged, "that little things are not always trifles."

A drop of water falling upon a stone is a "little thing," but a continued dropping weareth even the solid rock away. A blade of grass, a leaf, a flower, are "little things," but each assists materially to make up, adorn, and vivify the variegated landscape a theme for the poet, and the inspiration of the artist. A shred of hemp is also a "little thing," and fragile, so as to break with the smallest weight, but many combined, form the strong cable, which holds to anchor the ship of many tons' burden, or sustains the ponderous mass.

Let us consider briefly the influence of "little things" in the avocations, and on the character, of men in general. As in nature, so in these particulars, that influence will be found neither trifling nor unimportant. No doubt every one has observed, how an apparently trifling circumstance, in some instances, has determined the future course of life of some individuals, and in others, changed very materially the one already marked out. One young man may engage in some profession, with cheering prospects of success, looking forward into the future with flattering anticipations of the good he may possibly impart, and the benefit he may himself derive; when some slight accident may befall him, which blasts every prospect, and destroys all his anticipations. Another may be wealthy, with servants to attend his nod, and gratify his will; lying by night upon his bed of down, clothed every day in "purple and fine linen," and faring sumptuously upon the luxurious viands heaped upon his costly board. Yet, a

spark of fire, or the invisible, imponderable electric fluid, may consume his wealth, and hurl him from his high estate into the vale of poverty and want. Another may be poor and beggarly; his bed the solid floor, his garments patched and tattered, his food coarse and homely, when some fortuitous circumstance may place him in possession of a large inheritance, or some little experiment lead him on to more extensive discoveries, which will be the means of his fortune. That important changes in the moral and social condition of men arise from those incidents which are generally termed "trifling," would be farther evident, from an examination of the causes which tend to fill up our humane institutions and places of punishment— especially the latter. The convicts in our jails and penitentiaries did not become such at once-by a single act; but rather by insensible gradations from exceedingly small beginnings. Their first violation of right, no matter how small it may have been, was by no means a trifling violation, and exercised not a trifling influence in the formation of their character. Conscience a faithful monitor, so long as its monitions were regarded-lifted up its warning voice against it, but its promptings were checked by the oft-repeated answer, ""Tis a trifle," until those violations, small as they were, and trifling as they seemed, had thrown around them such an irresistible spell, as to easily lead them on to deeds of great daring and atrocity, when "the voice of conscience is lost amid the whirlwind of passion."

OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY, Dec. 3, 1850.

We submit to the society of those that can inform us, but we seek the society of those whom we can inform. And men of genius ought not to be chagrined if they see themselves neglected. For, when we communicate knowledge, we are raised in our own estimation, but when we receive it, we are lowered. That, therefore, which has been observed of treason, may be said also of talent, we love instruction, but hate the instructor, and use the light, but abuse the lantern.

THOUGHTS AMONG THE FLOWERS.

BY

Original.

FRANCES

Ꭰ . GAGE.

Oh! think, as the bright-eyed flowers ye cull,
They are types of all that is beautiful—
And their dew distilled by the balmy air,

Is the essence of all that is good and fair.

There is dew of flowers, in the mother's eye,
As she warbles her patient lullaby,

And dew on the infant cherub's lip,

As she stoops the nectared draught to sip.

There is dew on the maiden's blushing cheeks,
When his pure feeling, her lover speaks,
And sweetly it falls on his throbbing breast,
When his love by an answering love is blest

There is dew of flowers on the good man's hand,
And gentle it falls on the needy land,
And a pure rich dew on the true man's heart,
Who hath nobly and cheerfully played his part.

There is dew of flowers on the patriot's brow,
On the laurel wreath that binds it now,
And the fragrance around it will lingering stay,
When the flowers that gave it have passed away.

There's dew of flowers upon woman's head,
As lovely she bends over the suffering bed,
And gently it falls from her shining hair,
To soothe and soften the anguish there.

There's dew on the guileless cheek of youth,
And dew on the fearless front of truth,
And ever on manhood's well-spent hours,

Is scattered the richest dew of flowers.

Then think, when the bright-eyed flowers ye cull

They are types of all that is beautiful,

And their fragrance distilled by the balmy air,
Is the essence of all that is good and fair.

MOUNT AIRY, Nov. 1850.

THE CASTLE BUILDERS.

Original.

BY MRS. H. M. TRACY.

CHAPTER VII.

"Be thou like the first apostles,

Be thou like heroic Paul;

If a great thought seek expression,
Speak it boldly, speak it all.

Face thine enemies, accusers,
Scorn the prison, rack, and rod;
And if thou hast truth to utter,
Speak, and leave the rest to God."

WHEN we last parted with Henry Vinton, he was mourning over the grave of Alice. Years had since rolled over his head, and that great sorrow of his youth, had passed into his nature, not as an element of weakness, but as one of strength. It was the rallying word by which all his energies were summoned to do battle for the right. The prophecy of his boyhood had been fulfilled, and he stood forth, "God's minister to universal humanity."

had

There was not a condition in the realm so high, that his eye not scanned its relations, and tried to estimate its moral right. There was not a den of poverty so dark and loathsome, that he had not sought it out, and tried to fathom the reason why the lot of God's creatures, upon his earth, could be so worse than brutal.

But in the midst of this, think not that no anguish at his own weakness, no strong sighing for those who dwelt in such hopeless darkness, no wish, that for an hour, he might, like Moses, grasp the rod of power, never escaped his lips. He would have been consumed by the fire that burnt within, had he not opened his mouth in the cause of such as "are drawn unto death." He did speak; and his voice, like the deep tones of the thunder, shook many a heart. The