CLOUDS. 251 



ance that beams from the throne of day, the mind 

 is affected with an emotion of sublimity, unallied 

 with terror, and accompanied with the most cheerful 

 exaltation. 



Every scene in the universe is attended, when we 

 behold it, by a peculiar and specific sensation. Our 

 emotions are as nearly infinite as our thoughts ; and 

 nature provides an infinite variety of scenes to harmo 

 nize with all, that no existing susceptibility to pleasure 

 shall be lost, for the want of something external to act 

 upon it, and render it available as a source of happiness. 

 The human countenance is not more varied in its ex 

 pressions than the face of nature. There are beams in 

 the countenance of morn and even, capable of irradiat 

 ing into our souls a feeling of intense delight ; and it 

 is no marvel that nature should seem, as the poets have 

 described her, to smile upon us in the sunshine that 

 sparkles in the morning dews, and gilds the evening 

 sky, or in the moonlight that reveals to us a new firma 

 ment of wonders among the silvery clouds of night. 

 The forms and tints of the clouds produce effects upon 

 the mind that vary with the hour of the day. In the 

 morning there is a feeling of hopefulness attending the 

 spectacle of the constantly increasing splendor of the 

 clouds, commencing with the dark purple tints of dawn, 

 and widening with beautiful radiating undulations, 

 through their whole succession of hues, into perfect 

 day. As we are prepared by the buoyant feelings that 

 come from the spectacle of dawn, to enter with a glad 

 heart upon the duties of the day, we are equally in 

 spired by the spectacle of sunset, with a sentiment 

 of tranquillity, that prepares us for sound and healthful 

 repose. 



It is not difficult to understand that if the sun rose 



