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Literary
May 31, 1832
Litchfield Enquirer
Litchfield, Litchfield County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
A fable about a small brook that complains of its lowly state but is rebuked by a flower for neglecting its humble duty. The brook perseveres, grows into a grand river, and realizes its potential to do good, illustrating that humility and perseverance bring rewards.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Humility and Perseverance—A Fable
From the side of a mountain there flowed forth a little rivulet—its voice was scarcely heard among the rustling of the leaves and grass around, and its shallow and narrow stream might be overlooked by the traveller. This brook, although so small, was inspired with a proud spirit, and murmured against the decree of Providence, which had cast its lot so lowly.
'I wish I were a cloud, to roll all day through the heavens, painted so beautifully as those lovely shapes are colored, and never descending again in showers; or, at least, I wish I were a broad river, performing some useful duty in the world. Shame on my weak waves and unregarded bubbling. I might as well have never been, as to be thus puny, insignificant, and useless.'
When the brook had thus complained, a beautiful tall flower, that bent over its bosom, replied,
'Thou art in error, brook. Puny and insignificant thou mayest be; useless thou art not, or I owe half my beauty, perhaps my life, to thy refreshing waters. The plants adjacent to thee are greener and richer than the others. The Creator has given thee a duty, which, though humble, thou must not neglect. Besides, who knows what may be thy future destiny?—Flow on I beseech thee.'
The brook heard the rebuke and danced along its way more cheerfully. On and on it went, growing broader and broader. By and by other rivulets poured their crystal waters into it, and swelled its deepening bosom, in which already began to appear the airy creatures of the wave, darting about joyfully and glistening in the sun.
As its channel grew wider and wider, and yet other branches came gliding into it, the stream began to assume the importance of a river, and boats were launched on it, and it rolled on in a meandering course through a teeming country freshening whatever it touched, and giving the whole scene a new character of beauty.
As it moved on now in majesty and pride the sound of its gently heaving billows formed itself into the following words:
—'At the outset of life. however humble we may seem, fate may have in store for us great and unexpected opportunities of doing good and of being great. In the hope of these we should ever pass on without despair or doubt, trusting that perseverance will bring in its own reward.
How little I dreamed when I first sprang on my course, what purposes I was destined to fulfil! What happy beings were to owe their bliss to me! What lofty trees. what velvet meadows, what golden harvests were to hail my career! Let not the meek and lowly despair: heaven will supply them with noble inducements to virtue.'
From the side of a mountain there flowed forth a little rivulet—its voice was scarcely heard among the rustling of the leaves and grass around, and its shallow and narrow stream might be overlooked by the traveller. This brook, although so small, was inspired with a proud spirit, and murmured against the decree of Providence, which had cast its lot so lowly.
'I wish I were a cloud, to roll all day through the heavens, painted so beautifully as those lovely shapes are colored, and never descending again in showers; or, at least, I wish I were a broad river, performing some useful duty in the world. Shame on my weak waves and unregarded bubbling. I might as well have never been, as to be thus puny, insignificant, and useless.'
When the brook had thus complained, a beautiful tall flower, that bent over its bosom, replied,
'Thou art in error, brook. Puny and insignificant thou mayest be; useless thou art not, or I owe half my beauty, perhaps my life, to thy refreshing waters. The plants adjacent to thee are greener and richer than the others. The Creator has given thee a duty, which, though humble, thou must not neglect. Besides, who knows what may be thy future destiny?—Flow on I beseech thee.'
The brook heard the rebuke and danced along its way more cheerfully. On and on it went, growing broader and broader. By and by other rivulets poured their crystal waters into it, and swelled its deepening bosom, in which already began to appear the airy creatures of the wave, darting about joyfully and glistening in the sun.
As its channel grew wider and wider, and yet other branches came gliding into it, the stream began to assume the importance of a river, and boats were launched on it, and it rolled on in a meandering course through a teeming country freshening whatever it touched, and giving the whole scene a new character of beauty.
As it moved on now in majesty and pride the sound of its gently heaving billows formed itself into the following words:
—'At the outset of life. however humble we may seem, fate may have in store for us great and unexpected opportunities of doing good and of being great. In the hope of these we should ever pass on without despair or doubt, trusting that perseverance will bring in its own reward.
How little I dreamed when I first sprang on my course, what purposes I was destined to fulfil! What happy beings were to owe their bliss to me! What lofty trees. what velvet meadows, what golden harvests were to hail my career! Let not the meek and lowly despair: heaven will supply them with noble inducements to virtue.'
What sub-type of article is it?
Fable
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Nature
What keywords are associated?
Humility
Perseverance
Fable
Brook
River
Moral
Providence
Virtue
Literary Details
Title
Humility And Perseverance—A Fable
Key Lines
'I Wish I Were A Cloud, To Roll All Day Through The Heavens, Painted So Beautifully As Those Lovely Shapes Are Colored, And Never Descending Again In Showers; Or, At Least, I Wish I Were A Broad River, Performing Some Useful Duty In The World. Shame On My Weak Waves And Unregarded Bubbling. I Might As Well Have Never Been, As To Be Thus Puny, Insignificant, And Useless.'
'Thou Art In Error, Brook. Puny And Insignificant Thou Mayest Be; Useless Thou Art Not, Or I Owe Half My Beauty, Perhaps My Life, To Thy Refreshing Waters. The Creator Has Given Thee A Duty, Which, Though Humble, Thou Must Not Neglect. Besides, Who Knows What May Be Thy Future Destiny?—Flow On I Beseech Thee.'
'At The Outset Of Life. However Humble We May Seem, Fate May Have In Store For Us Great And Unexpected Opportunities Of Doing Good And Of Being Great. In The Hope Of These We Should Ever Pass On Without Despair Or Doubt, Trusting That Perseverance Will Bring In Its Own Reward.'
How Little I Dreamed When I First Sprang On My Course, What Purposes I Was Destined To Fulfil! What Happy Beings Were To Owe Their Bliss To Me! What Lofty Trees. What Velvet Meadows, What Golden Harvests Were To Hail My Career! Let Not The Meek And Lowly Despair: Heaven Will Supply Them With Noble Inducements To Virtue.