154 riBEHIA. 



out in all their connections and draw from them all those conclusions 

 which we draw from our own. Study is the highest exercise of our 

 reasoning powers, and it is on this account that I have ascribed to it 

 such high dignity; To be sure, this is not attained at once. It is a pro- 

 gressive work, and it depends upon circumstances how soon we shall 

 attain in it that perfection at which it aims. We commence it in our in- 

 fancy, but if we do not go about it intelligently and industriously we shall 

 descend to our graves without having achieved our task. And here is 

 the answer to the question which we have asked about the apparent stu- 

 pidity of some of our classmates ; they do not apply their minds so as to 

 penetrate beyond the very roughest exterior of the subject which is pre- 

 sented to them for their study. 



But my paper is exliausted, and I must break off in the midst of 

 what I was about saying to convince you of the immense advantage!;, 

 which you now enjoy, for the acquisition of that most important of in- 

 tellectual and moral habits — study ; and I must abruptly close with the 

 assurance that if you receive this homily patiently, I shall, in due time, 

 inflict upon you a "second lesson," ever remaining, 



Your attached, 



Philo. 



SIBERIA. NO. .III. 



For fifty-two days, during the three months honored with the name 

 of Summer, the sun never entirely disappears •, it remains so near the 

 horizon that his light is accompanied with but little heat. Except Win- 

 ter and Summer, there is no distinction between the seasons ; although 

 the inhabitants, with that "amor patriae" which burns as intensely in 

 Siberia as in our own native land, pretend to point out Spring, when the 

 sun is just visible at noon and the thermometer during the night is of- 

 ten -35° ; and Autumn they refer to the first freezing of the river, which 

 is early in September, with a temperature of 47°. During this brief sea- 

 son, a few little birds hail the opening Summer with their lively twitter- 

 ing, and a few flowers expand their petals. The stinted willows put 

 forth a few Avrinkled, semi-verdant leaves, and the plants bearing berries 

 begin to blossom, when, not unfrequently, an icy blast from the sea 

 turns the verdure yellow and destroys the bloom. In addition to this 

 dreariness, and as if to rob the inhabitants of all the bleissings of their 

 only genial season, clouds of musquetoes darken the air, from which 

 there is no refuge but in the pungent smoke of the dymokuries. These 

 are large heaps of fallen leaves, moss, and damp wood, which when set 



