structure, and its existence
is evident to us through the various sensations it creates in different
nerves of our bodies, and through them alone.

One of the ancient philosophies maintained that all Nature is but the
phantasm of our senses. Had it, after first granting that the senses
themselves were evidences of matter and motion, maintained that Nature
was only evident to us through them, it would have been simple truth.
Our perceptions of Nature are limited to the capacity of our nervous
structure. We frequently make the mistake of endowing matter with
attributes which it does not possess, and which are resident only in the
impression communicated to us by forces emanating from it, the forces
being we know not what. And we can understand that there may be forces
in nature as powerful as those which we perceive by our senses, but
which are utterly unrecognized by them. We can understand that it were
possible for organized beings to possess fifty instead of five senses,
which might receive from nature other impressions and awaken other
emotions as beautiful and as beneficent as those arising from sight and
hearing.

SONNET.

Rather, my people, let thy youths parade
Their woolly flocks before the rising sun;
With curds and oat-cakes, when their work is done,
By frugal handmaids let the board be laid;
Let them refresh their vigor in the shade,
Or deem their straw as down to lie upon,
Ere the great nation which our sires begun
Be rent asunder by hell's minion, Trade!
If jarring interests and the greed of gold,
The corn-rick's envy of the mined hill,
The steamer's grudge against the spindle's skill,--
If things so mean our country's fate can mould,
O, let me hear again the shepherds trill
Their reedy music to the drowsing fold!

LITERATURE AS AN ART.

As one looks forward to the America of fifty years hence, the main
source of anxiety appears to be in a probable excess of prosperity, and
in the want of a good grievance. We seem nearly at the end of those
great public wrongs which require a special moral earthquake to end
them. Except to secure the ballot for woman,--a contest which is thus
far advancing very peaceably,--there seems nothing left which need be
absolutely fought for; no great influence to keep us from a commonplace
and perhaps debasing success. There will, no doubt, be still need of the
statesman to adjust t