US DECEMBER. 275 



lengthening days and brighter skies, inspiring fresh 

 hopes and pleasing expectations, that 



<* All this uniform uncolour'd scene> 

 Shall be dismantled of its fleecy load, 

 And flush into variety again." 



' 



The Advantages of Winter. 



The frost and cold of winter prevent many hurt- 

 ful vapours in the higher regions of the atmosphere 

 from falling upon us, and even purifies the air. Far 

 from being always bad for our health, it often 

 strengthens it, and preserves the humours from pu- 

 trefaction, which a constant heat would certainly oc- 

 casion. If the vapours which collect in the atmos- 

 phere were always to fall in rain, the earth would 

 be too soft and wet, our bodies would be too full of 

 humours, and too much relaxed ; whereas the cold 

 braces and promotes the circulation of blood. We 

 are told by travellers, that in Greenland, where the 

 ground is covered with mountains of ice, and where 

 in winter the days are only four or five hours long, 

 the air is very wholesome, clear, and light: and, ex- 

 cept a few complaints in the chest and eyes, occa- 

 sioned partly by the quality of the food, they have 

 seldom there the disorders so common in Europe. 



As man, though active by choice, and though la- 

 bour is necessary to him, is still glad to interrupt his 

 employments to taste the sweets of sleep, so also our 

 nature yields to the change of seasons, and takes a 

 pleasure in it, because in reality it contributes towards 



