242 DECEMBER. 



train of imagery that inspires him, on a winter's walk, 

 with a buoyancy not often felt in the balmy days of June. 

 Then does he trace, with unalloyed delight, every green 

 leaf that seems budding out for spring ; and in the gen- 

 eral stillness, every sound from abroad has a gladness 

 in its tone not surpassed by the melodies of a summer 

 morning. 



On these pleasant days of winter, which are of frequent 

 occurrence in our variable climate, I often indulge myself 

 in a solitary ramble, taking note of those forms of vege- 

 tation that remain unchanged, and of the still greater 

 number that lie folded in hyemal sleep. For such excur- 

 sions the only proper time is when the earth is free from 

 snow, which, though a beautifier of the prospect, conceals 

 all minute objects that are strewed upon the ground or 

 that are still feebly vegetating under the protection of 

 the woods. The most prominent appearances are the 

 remains of autumnal vegetation. The stalks of the faded 

 asters are still erect, with their downy heads shaking in 

 the breeze, which has already scattered their seeds upon 

 the ground ; and the more conspicuous tufts of the golden- 

 rods are seen in nodding and irregular rows under the 

 fences, or bending over the ice that covers the meadows 

 where they grew. All these are but the faded garlands of 

 Nature, that pleasantly remind us of the past festivities 

 of summer, of cheerful toil, or studious recreation. 



Nature never entirely conceals the beauties of the field 

 and wood save when, for their protection, she covers them 

 with snow. The faded remnants of last summer's vege- 

 tation may have but little positive beauty; but to the 

 mind of the naturalist they are attractive on account of 

 the lessons they afford and the sentiments they awaken. 

 But there are objects in the wood which are neither faded 

 nor leafless ; and many that are leafless still retain their 

 beauty and the appearance of life. Beside the ever- 



