"
"But," said I, "we do not attribute moral excellence to the ground that
produces our food. How could the absence of sin make it any better?"
"Like everything else," replied Thorwald, "it reflected the spiritual
condition of our race. By long and patient cultivation, by a constant use
of good seed, and by a persistent fight against every tendency to evil
growth, men had so changed the nature of the soil that it yielded only
that which was good. Even if left without care the ground did not
deteriorate, but the products took on the character of the times and
gradually improved. To such a degree had our once sinful world been
changed.
"The disagreeable features in nature's laboratory were lost to every
sense, while everything that was beautiful in sight or sound, or that was
pleasant to the taste, now possessed an added charm. The birds sang in
more joyous notes, the flowers glowed in brighter hue, and all created
things burst forth in a song of praise to their Maker."
"Is it possible," I asked, "that the growth of love in the heart will so
transform a world and make even inanimate things more beautiful? The earth
is full of selfishness and I fear will be so for a long time, and yet we
think we have a few things that are perfect.
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