THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 181 



heavens ; and even then there is a twilight, — an au- 

 tumn of his life which forewarns him by many peaceful 

 but sure tokens, that the year of his mortal life is 

 drawing near to its close. 



That in all these transitions there is a benevolent 

 design, it is impossible to doubt. '* He who knoweth 

 our frame, and remembereth that we are dust," has so 

 regulated the world in which we live, that the very 

 changes and uncertainties of which it is made up, are 

 intended to promote a right discipline of the heart, by 

 enforcing upon us the necessity of vigilance and a pre- 

 paration for the future. Hence the present season is 

 one which speaks to us with the voice of an inspired 

 preacher, who, when he was fast sinking into the au- 

 tumn of his life, left behind him the best warning of 

 its vanity in that never to be forgotten precept, '* Re- 

 member thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while 

 the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when 

 thou ehalt say, I have no pleasure in them. While the 

 sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars be not 

 darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain." (Eccles. 

 xi. 1, 2.) 



One of the most affecting incidents of this season, 

 is the departure of those feathered tribes which have 



