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and spreading its fragrance around the habita- 

 tions of man. ' The desert,' even, ' and the so- 

 litary places are glad, and the wilderness springs 

 and blossoms as the rose/ The animal world is 

 marked by still deeper characters of happiness. 

 Myriads of seen, and far greater myriads of un- 

 seen beings, are now rising from every element 

 into life, and enjoying their new-born existence, 

 and hailing with inarticulate voice the Power 

 that gave them birth. The late desert of exist- 

 ence is now filling with animation, and every 

 element around us is pregnant with life and pro- 

 digal of joy. Is there a time in which we can 

 better learn the goodness of the universal God ? 

 Is it not wise in us to go abroad into nature, and 

 to associate His name with every thing that at 

 this season delights the eye and gratifies the 

 heart ? And is there any image under which it 

 is so useful for us to figure Him who inhabiteth 

 eternity, as under that of the Father of the crea- 

 tion ; as having called every thing into existence 

 for His pleasure ; in communicating happiness ; 

 and as, in these moments, listening with placid 

 ear, to every articulate voice that speaks grati- 

 tude, and to every inarticulate voice that testifies 



joy." 



Of all the vicissitudes of the year, none is 

 more tranquilly magnificent than the moonlight 

 of autumn. With what a deep delight the lover 

 of nature, resting on the brow of a green hill, be- 

 holds the broad silver moon emerging from the 

 sea, to reign over the night, and shedding over 



