1$ BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN. 



across the districts of the mountains, while lakes of 

 considerable magnitude lave their basis, and cover 

 by their limpid waves the interjacent vallies. 



We have just been considering the earth as a glo- 

 bular body But how, it may be asked, are we to 

 reconcile this with those unequal appearances ob- 

 servable on its surface ? To this we answer, that 

 the elevation of the highest mountain bears no more 

 proportion to the diameter of this wonderful struc- 

 ture, than the inequalities on the rind of an orange 

 does to its bulk ; and although these may render it, 

 comparatively speaking, a little uneven, they do 

 nothing to subtract from the beauty of its appear- 

 ance, or the general roundness of its figure. 



Deformities, indeed, they cannot be called ; for 

 if the human mind delights in variety, these inequa- 

 lities present us with a variety the most pleasing and 

 picturesque ; and if the contemplative philosopher 

 Is captivated by the multiplicity of nature's produc- 

 tions, these furnish food for the most keen researcher 

 into the wonders of creation. But a gratification of 

 taste for the sublime and beautiful were not the only 

 objects the Creator had in view in this diversity of 

 the earth's surface. 



Mountains and Vallies. 



These have other great and important uses. Is 

 Health the greatest of all earthly blessings? to one 

 class of valetudinarians the mountain breeze is be- 

 neficial, while to another the genial warmth of the 



