408 MENTAL INFLUENCES OF WINTER. 



become a dense concretion of ice : its inhabitants 

 would not only perish, but the indurated mass 

 would resist the influence of the sun of any summer 

 to thaw it, and continue congealed throughout 

 the year, chilling the earth in its neighbourhood, 

 and the winds that passed over it, preventing 

 the growth of vegetation in the former, or blight- 

 ing and destroying it by the influence of the 

 latter. 



Winter is called a dull season ; and to the sensa- 

 tions of some, the enjoyments of others, and, per- 

 haps, to the vision of all, it is a most cheerless 

 period. This is so universally felt, that we always 

 associate the idea of pleasure with the return of 

 spring : whatsoever our occupations or employ- 

 ments may be, though its sleety storms and pierc- 

 ing winds may at times chill the very current in 

 our veins, yet we consider it as an harbinger of 

 pleasurable hours and grateful pursuits. We com- 

 mence our undertakings, or defer them till spring. 

 The hopes or prospects of the coming year are 

 principally established in spring; and we trust 

 that the delicate health of the blossoms round our 

 hearths, which has faded in the chilling airs of 

 winter, may be restored by the mild influence of 

 that season.* Yet winter must be considered as the 

 time in which Nature is most busily employed ; 

 silent in her secret mansions, she is now preparing 

 and compounding the verdure, the flowers, the 

 nutriment of spring ; and all the fruits and glorious 

 profusion of our summer year are only the advance 



