394 FACTS AND INFERENCES, GRAVE AND GAY. 



the cheerful spring and all its glad remembrances rejoice 

 his heart, let him forget not in redundant health, how 

 many worthier far than he lie on a bed of sickness racked 

 with pain, or with sinking spirits toil for daily bread — 

 no murmuring stream within their downcast view, no 

 freshening air around their throbbing temples. If sum- 

 mer heat o'ercomes him, and he rests, not undelighted, by 

 gray romantic keep, or rustic bridge, or old umbrageous 

 tree, let him remember while gazing on these frail memo- 

 rials — in reference to bis puny frame, how long enduring ! 

 — his immortal state, and think with solemn heartfelt 

 awe upon that " shadow of a great rock," within which 

 the weary and heavy laden rest for ever. If autumn's 

 ruddy streams are roaring loud, let him not, as one re- 

 joicing in his strength, trust to that strength alone, and 

 so " surely in the floods of great waters they shall not 

 come nigh thee." When stormy winter has embroiled the 

 sweet serenity of this green earih, and with "elemental 

 strife " rages among icy crags and leafless trees, and the 

 shepherd's hut and the lone mountain shieling lie buried 

 beneath the drifting snows — then let the angler, with 

 grateful if not with gladsome heart, acknowledge the 

 blessings of his fireside comforts, the numerous home 

 delights with which he is surrounded, the goodness and 

 mercy which have followed him " all the days of his life." 

 Tf he is the son of living parents, let him reverence their 



