Letters to MG and HG Author:John Ruskin Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: 11 CHAPTER II. A CHEERFUL SUNDAY AT A PLEASANT FARMHOUSE. " If you get up in the morning and resolve to see Nature, you will see it in a supernatural ma... more »nner. You will hear with your spirit the morning star and his fellows sing together ; also, you will hear the sons of God shouting together for joy with them, particularly the little ones, — sparrows, greenfinches, linnets, and the like." nPHE Sunday morning was bright, clear, and beautiful. The dew sparkled like diamonds on the sweet-scented meadow flowers and grasses, adorning them as brides in the boundless temple of the Lord. The wedding songs were sung by choirs of finches, blackbirds, and larks; the old mountains looked down as witnesses, bearded, grave, and solemn, with the roses of youth on their furrowed cheeks ; and the golden sun was as the priest of God, scattering bridal blessings in his sparkling beams. The thousand-voiced song and the magnificence of the morning awoke the Paysan early, and he walked about his farm with a heart full of gratitude and gladness. As he- went with high step and long strides through the thick grass, paused at the luxuriant cornfield and the well-kept plantation of gently- waving flax, or observed the trees laden withfruit, he did not think only of the profit he hoped to make, but he raised his heart in devout thankfulness to God, who had so richly prospered him, whose goodness fills the earth, and whose glory and wisdom are new every morning. He reflected that man's praise should not be wanting whilst all Nature was full of joy. As the tree in its stateliness, as the cornfield in its fulness, so man should show forth the praises of his Creator in his whole being, not only with his lips, but in his life. " Thanks be to God," thought he; " as for me and my house, we will serve the...« less