THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 195 



readers are disposed to imagine that this Poet chose but 

 a barren theme to occupy his muse, we recommend thent 

 to read with attention his ' Winter Evening/ and the 

 'Winter Morning Walk/ as well as the 'Winter's Walk at 

 Noon/ And when they have followed him in the series of 

 meditations to which he and his lofty predecessor, Thom- 

 son, have struck the finest chords of poetic feeling and 

 description, we think they will agree with us, that Winter 

 may be as full of agreeable and profitable ideas as even 

 summer itself. It is therefore much to be lamented, that 

 so ittany persons, especially of the poorer class, are too 

 apt, like the dormouse, to spend in a state of torpidity 

 and slumber, so large a portion of those wintry hours, 

 which would if rightly employed have been highly 

 favourable to the purposes of mental cultivation, and 

 religious improvement. 



To the Christian Naturalist, Winter abounds with 

 subjects of grand and interesting contemplation. What 

 indeed can be more worthy of attention, than that 

 beautiful fleecy mantle in which nature so often wraps 

 herself during this season ! Let us stand a moment, 

 and watch the descending shower of snow ! With what 

 softness and grace does it fall, and repose upon the 

 bosom of the earth ! How lovely and pure the white- 



