CHAPTER I. 



WINTER. 



THE new year opens very appropriately in the depth 

 of winter, since the commencement of all things, both 

 in the natural and in the moral world, takes place in 

 secrecy and seeming darkness. Yet new year's day 

 is a matter only of the artificial division of time. The 

 phenomena of living nature which mark the actual 

 progress of the year, are independent altogether of the 

 almanac. Long before we exchange our kindly greet- 

 ings, and those happy salutations and generous wishes 

 of the season, that signalize the advent of the new 

 year to our firesides, long before this, it has been 

 new year's day to a thousand buds and flowers, both 

 in field and garden. Delicate looms have been set in 

 motion to weave that sweet apparel with which, in 

 due time, even Solomon, in all his glory, might not 

 compare. Deep in the hidden chambers of many a 

 root and little bulb, have commenced in quiet energy 

 those wonderful preparations which, when summer 

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