Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/396

156 THE CRATER; tain to have all his nobler and better feelings blunted by the grasping of cupidity, and to lose sight of the great ob jects of his existence, so do whole communities degenerate into masses of corruption, venality, and cupidity, when they set up the idol of commerce to worship in lieu of the ever-living God. So far from denoting a healthful pros perity, as is too apt to be supposed, no worse signs of the condition of a people can be given, than when all other in terests are made to yield to those of the mere money-get ting sort. Among our colonists, as yet, commerce occu pied its proper place; it was only an incident in their state of society, and it was so regarded. Men did not search for every means of increasing it, whether its fruits were wanted or not, or live in a constant fever about its results. The articles brought in were all necessary to the comfort and civilization of the settlements, and those taken away were obtained by means of a healthful industry. As they ascended the height, following an easy path that, led to the Summit, the governor and his wife conversed about the late visitation, and of what each had seen that was striking and worthy of comment. Mark had a coun cil to consult, in matters of state, but most did he love to compare opinions with the sweet matronly young creature at his side. Bridget was so true in all her feelings, so just in her inferences, and so kindly disposed, that a better counsellor could not have been found at the elbow of one intrusted with power. " I am more uneasy on the subject of religion than on any other," observed the governor, as he helped his little companion up a difficult part of the ascent. " While out, I took great pains to sound the people on the subject, and I found a much greater variety of opinions, or rather of feelings, among them than I could have believed possible, after the quiet time we have hitherto had." " After all, religion is, and ought to be, more a matter of feeling, than of reason, Mark." " That is true, in one sense, certainly; but, it should be feeling subject to prudence and discretion." " Everything should be subject to those two qualities, though so very few are. I have all along known that the min istrations of Mr. Hornblower were only tolerated by a good 1