BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN. 21 



fountains, that they have been found to be for the 

 healing of multitudes who resort thither, and not for 

 him alone who is fortunate enough to be first plunged 

 ipto the troubled stream. 



Widz and extended Plains 



Also cover a considerable portion of the face of 

 our globe, and these are not without their uses. Did 

 nothing but huge mountainous districts, intercepted 

 by deep vallies, present themselves, what room 

 would be left for tillage ? What incredible labour 

 and fatigue in travelling ! What insurmountable 

 barriers to the purposes of trade and commerce! 

 But these facilitate the operations of agriculture, and 

 cause the stubborn glebe to be broken up with ease. 

 Carriages with immense burdens glide alona: ori the 

 level of a rail -way ; the traveller on horseback, en- 

 veloped in darkness, pursues his journey without 

 danger of stumbling ; the loaded waggon is wheeled 

 anwards without interruption; and the swift post 

 flies with astonishing celerity on the wings of busi- 

 ness. 



The last thing we shall touch upon in the general 

 appearance of the surface of the dry land is the 



Verdant Colour of the Earth ', 



For whatever diversity of hue there may be in na- 

 tural objects when viewed separately, there car-* be 

 no doubt but this is the most general and prevailing 



