338 DECEMBER. 



softly and silently above millions of sleeping crea- 

 tures, that take no thought for themselves. 



Such are the thoughts which flow into the spirit 

 of the solitary man, as he walks through the pure 

 retreats of Nature such have been mine as I have 

 gone on, from day to day, building up this " Book 

 of the Seasons ;" and in the spirit of thankful hap- 

 piness and " goodwill to all," I thus bring it to an 

 end. 



The evergreen trees with their beautiful cones, 

 such as firs and pines, are now particularly ob- 

 served and valued ; the different species of ever- 

 lasting flowers, so pleasing an ornament to our 

 parlours in winter, and indeed during the whole 

 year, also attract our attention. The oak, the 

 beech, and the hornbeam, in part retain their leaves, 

 while all other trees are entirely denuded. The 

 scarlet berries of the holly, and the fiery bunches of 

 Pyracantha on its dark green, thorny sprays, are 

 brightly conspicuous, and the mosses are in their 

 pride. 



December, says Verstegan, had his due appella- 

 tion given him by our ancestors, in the name of 

 Winter -monath ; to wit, winter-month : but after the 

 Saxons received Christianity, they then, out of devo- 

 tion to the birth-time of Christ, termed it Heligh- 

 monath ; that is to say, holy-month. Sayers adds, 



