CONGENIAL TO A COUNTRY LIFE. 119 
reflects upon what he sees, —is, in spirit, both a 
naturalist and a philosopher. To him, every season 
of the year is doubly interesting ; for, independent 
of those changes apparent to all, there are others 
which bring peculiar delight to himself. With each 
succeeding month, new races of animals and plants 
rise into existence, and become new objects for his 
research: these, in their turn, pass away, and are 
succeeded by others ; until autumn fades into winter, 
and both the animal and the vegetable world sink 
into repose. But even this ungenial season, so 
dreary and comfortless to the mere country resident, 
is not without interest to the naturalist; for no 
period of the year is so unsuited to animal life, as 
to leave our climate destitute of inhabitants. A fine 
sunny day, in the depth of winter, calls forth many 
little insects, rarely seen at any other period: while 
the numerous mosses and lichens, then in fructifi- 
cation, give to the woodland walk of the botanist a new 
and lively interest. Nor are the naturalist’s pursuits 
suspended when storms prevent his walks, and con- 
fine him to the house. The acquisitions to his various 
collections, made during the past year, are to be 
examined and arranged; or his loose notes are to 
be compared and digested. These are fit and 
delightful occupations for the long winter evenings ; 
and over a cheerful fire, he only laments that the 
hours glide too rapidly away. 
« Thus may our lives, exempt from publie toil, 
Find tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, 
Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.” 
(66.) The enthusiasm of naturalists is very apt to 
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