vl PREFACE. 
industry. Having the prospect of leaving home for a few 
months, I wished to have it in the hands of the printer 
before the end of March, and therefore during the winter, 
while I was all day, and every day, occupied with my pro- 
fessional duties, in the dark morning hours, and in the 
darker hours of night, when even in summer the bee would 
have been sound asleep, I was “aye write—writing ;” so 
that by dint of perseverance in working double tides, ere 
March was over my labours had come to a close. 
Though carried on both late and early, the labours were 
far from being unpleasant. Admiring the beautiful crea- 
tures and their exquisite workmanship, a person is almost 
unavoidably led to think of Him who works in them, by 
them, for them,—and to say, If he cares for these almost 
invisible entities, which cannot, except by the happiness 
they exhibit, acknowledge His kindness, how much more 
will He care for us, if we seek to know Him, and put our 
trust in Him as our reconciled God ! 
I was cheered on also by the aid so readily given to me 
by many kind-hearted friends, to whom I am under great 
