2 VOICES FROM THE WOODLANDS. 



torrents, owe their beauty and luxuriance to our unwearied 

 ministry. 



Periods have been in this world's history, nor less in 

 that of isolated spots, when the rugged flanks of granite 

 rocks, desolate and herbless, uprose from out their depths. 

 Summer suns shone on them, and soft showers fell silently 

 upon them, from one season to another ; but no return did 

 those stern rocks yield, till the seeds of crustaceous lichens 

 for such Linnasus calls us were scattered by the winds 

 in fissures wrought by time or storms, and, spreading 

 gradually over the sterile surface, varied it with our multi- 

 farious tintings. Years passed on, and with them the ever- 

 recurring round of decay and renovation, till at length a 

 slight accumulation of fine earth became deposited. In 

 this, seeds pertaining to small plants were committed by the 

 wind, that random sower ! till, becoming in their turn a 

 richer kind of vegetable mould, innumerable mosses sprang 

 up, and produced a pleasant green turf fit for the reception 

 of larger plants. Among these rapidly appeared both grasses 



