60 THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 



season which is full of pleasing ideas, and which is so 

 anxiously looked forward to, amidst the gloomy and 

 stormy months of winter ? Doubtless there is much in 

 Spring to awaken the attention of every inquiring mind, 

 and call forth a tribute of gratitude to the Creator from 

 every thankful heart. Who can listen to the thrush 

 warbling amidst the groves, or behold the lark mounting 

 upwards towards the gates of heaven, without wishing 

 to join in the melodious concert of praise which is now 

 poured forth by these and innumerable feathered song- 

 sters of the earth and air ? Who can survey the fields 

 clothed with verdure, the trees expanding into full leaf, 

 and the flowers putting on their gayest and freshest dress, 

 without feeling as it were a new emotion, a sensation 

 peculiar to the season of S pring ? Fragrance is in the 

 air, beauty in the earth and brilliancy in the sky. Under 

 the influence of a reviving temperature, fresh vitality 

 seems infused into all the springs of nature. It wears 

 the aspect of youth, and its blushes and smiles are those 

 of virgin innocence and loveliness. We look and we 

 look again at the picture, and it seems to carry back the 

 thoughts to that period when man came fresh and 

 uncorrupted from his Maker's hand ; ** when the 

 morning stars first sang together, and all the sons of 



