Page:Early Spring in Massachusetts (1881).djvu/279

How hard it is to be greatly related to mankind. They are only our uncles and aunts and cousins. I hear of some persons greatly related, but only he is so who has all mankind for his friend. Our intercourse with the best grows soon shallow and trivial. They no longer inspire us. After enthusiasm comes insipidity. The sap of all noble schemes drieth up, and the schemers return again and again in despair to "common sense and labor." If I could help infuse some life and heart into society, should I not do a service? Why will not the gods mix a little of the wine of nobleness with the air we drink? let virtue have some firm foothold in the earth? Where does she dwell? Who are the salt of the earth? May not Love have some resting-place on the earth as sure as the sunshine on the rock? The crystals imbedded in the cliffs sparkle and gleam from afar, as if they did certainly enrich our planet, but where does any virtue permanently sparkle and gleam? She was sent forth over the earth too soon, before the earth was prepared for her. Rightfully we are to each other the gate of heaven and redeemers from sin, but how we overlook these lowly and narrow ways. We will go over the bold mountain tops without going through the valleys. Men do not, after all, meet on the ground of their real acquaint-