DECEMBER. 337 



wbiJe we have loitered on a violet-path, and watched 

 the passing splendours of the Seasons. Once more 

 our planet has completed one of those journeys in 

 the heavens which perfect all the fruitful changes of 

 its peopled surface, and mete out the few stages of 

 our existence ; and every day, every hour of that 

 progress has, in all her wide lands, in all her million 

 hearts, left traces that eternity shall behold. 



Yet if we have not been burdened with man's 

 cares, we have not forgotten him, but many a time 

 have we thanked God for his bounties to him, and 

 rejoiced in the fellowship of our nature. If there 

 be a scene to stir in our souls all our thankfulness 

 to God, and all our love for man, it is that of Nature. 

 When we behold the beautiful progression of the 

 Seasons when we see how leaves and flowers 

 burst forth and spread themselves over the earth by 

 myriads in spring, how summer and autumn fill 

 the world with loveliness and fragrance, with corn 

 and wine, it is impossible not to feel our hearts 

 " breathe perpetual benedictions," to the great 

 Founder and Provider of the world, and warm 

 with sympathetic affection towards our own race, 

 for whom he has thought fit to prepare all this hap- 

 piness. There is no time in which I feel these sen- 

 timents more strongly than when I behold the moon 

 rising over a solitary summer landscape. The re- 

 pose of all creatures on the earth makes more sen- 

 sibly felt the incessant care of Him who thus sends 

 up " his great light to rule the night," and to shine 

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