192 HILLS AND LAKES. 



flows, and flows on with him, like the runnin' waters, 

 and like them he must be lost at last in the great 

 ocean of eternity. The squirrel preaches to him ; he 

 sees the little animal gatherin' his store of nuts, work- 

 in' with cheerfulness in the summer, to provide against 

 the barrenness of the winter months. That little sense- 

 less thing that follows only a blind instinct, tells him 

 that there is a great winter in the far-off future, and 

 the summer is the time to provide for its coming. 

 That the idle shall starve in its dreariness, and the 

 profligate perish under its pressure. The birds in 

 their joyous songs among the branches of the tall 

 trees, preach to him. They tell him to go cheerfully 

 on his way of life, in thankfulness to Him, who scat- 

 ters so many blessings on the trail that he follows, 

 They say to him, that He is a kind and beneficent 

 God, who made them so joyful and happy, and gave 

 them food, and cool shades, and the branches, among 

 which they could sport, and build their nests, and 

 gave them glad voices to carol in praise of Him who 

 provided them with all these. Even the tall moun- 

 tain, rearing its bare head to the clouds, defyin' the 

 storm and the tempest, has its sermon. It tells him 

 of the might and majesty, and the fixedness of the 



