312 DECEMBER. 



care of him who thus sends up " his great light 

 to rule the night, and to shine softly and silently 

 above millions of sleeping creatures, that take 

 no thought for themselves. • 



Such are the thoughts which flow into the 

 spirit of the solitary man as he walks through 

 the pure retreats of Nature — such have been 

 mine as I have gone on, from day to day, build- 

 ing up this "Book of the Seasons;" and in the 

 spirit of thankful happiness and " goodwill to 

 all," I thus bring it to an end. 



Daily Wayfarers. — Of all the vast class of 

 human creatures who are doomed to diurnal 

 weariness — to know the bitterness of " the la- 

 bour that is done under the sun," — there are 

 none that I can more feelingly sympathise with 

 than the daily wayfarers. I do not mean the 

 wealthy, the lazy, and luxurious riatores that, in 

 carriage, or on steed, traverse the king's high- 

 ways, in great bodily comfort, and, after a few 

 hours' career, alight in elegant homes or well- 

 garnished inns, and stretching themselves at 

 their ease, with every requisite of viand, wine, 

 and feather-bed at command, 



Think themselves great travellers, 

 Invincible and bold : 



