DEVOTBD TO AQKICUIiTUBE AND ITS KINDRED ABT3 AND BCIENCES. 



VOL. XV.' 



BOSTON, NOVEMBER, 1863. 



NO. 11. 



NOtTRSE, EATON k TOLMAN, Propeibtobs. 

 Office. . . .102 Washisoto.n Street. 



SIMON BROWN, Editor. 



THOUGHTS SUGGESTED BY NOVEMBER. 



"I remember, well remember. 



When I was a chiM at play, 

 Life h:«l then no drear November, 



But wa8 one continued May. 

 Then, November's days were gladness ; 



Still and fresh flowed life's young tide ; 

 Not a scene was tinged with sadness, 



Though sweet Nature drooped and died." Edmond. 



HE other even- 

 ing a lady ask- 

 ed U8 whether 

 the season of 

 Spnng or Au- 

 ■^^tuimi excited in 

 ir^ the mind the 

 most pleasing 

 sensations ? In 

 t h e_, conversa- 

 ti n that en- 

 sued, we found 

 that she gave a 

 decided prefer- 

 ence to the Au- 

 tumn. Our re- 

 ply was, that 

 the seasons act 

 differently upon 

 different temperaments — that to minds having a 

 morbid tendency, the season of Spring, flushing 

 with new life and fresh hopes, has a cheering and 

 encouraging tendency which makes both mind and 

 body vigorous and elastic, and gives to existence 

 new powers and charms. In such minds the sea- 

 son of spring excites almost rapturous emotions, 

 but emotions too apt to be as fleeting and uncer- 

 tain as the sun and showers of April or May. 



To a different class of minds, to the serene and 

 meditative, the mind that is more surely balanced, 

 though it may not possess much of the essentially 

 good qualities than the less firm, Auiuvin comes 



"In its sober livery clad," 

 without inflicting a wound or even tinging the 

 mind with sadness. It sees in the natural process 



of decay around it, — the falling leaf and ripened 

 fruits, — the beautiful and beneficent result of the 

 increasing operation of God's laws, and is con- 

 stantly filled with adoration and love for the im- 

 pressive evidences of his wisdom and care. What 

 suggests to other minds, approaching decay and 

 dissolution, and brings heaviness and sorrow to 

 the heart, only animates the hopeful to a firmer 

 faith, and more untiring exertion. Such, briefly, 

 was our reply, — but the conversation was contin- 

 ued and brought out many beautiful and instruc- 

 tive thoughts. 



November has gathering clouds and sweeping 

 winds that bear away the leaves, that roar among 

 the tops of the tall forest, or scream through the 

 the cracks of the apartment. It also brings heavy 

 frosts, and occasional snow-flakes; the pools some- 

 times receive a glassy covering, and late in the 

 month the roads become rough and hard. Crows 

 sit in the sun on the top of some favorite tree, 

 and catv to their neighbors on other trees, while 

 the squirrel and blue jay are industriously carry- 

 ing away the farmer's corn, left too late in the 

 field, or gathering up the nuts that have fallen to 

 the ground, to supply their wants when winter's 

 winds and snows forbid their going abroad. 

 What a beautiful instinct ! IIow impressive are 

 the words of the Psalmist, that "He provideth 

 their meat for them in due season." 



So Novcmher is full of instruction if our hearts 

 are fitted to receive it. The evidences of decay 

 around us, certainly should suggest the brevity 

 and uncertainty of our own mortal existence, but 

 not in any trembling and slavish sense. It is true, 

 that "the year is going away like the sound of 

 bells. The winds pass over the stubble, and find 

 nothing to move, only the red berries of that slen- 

 der tree, which seem as if they would fain remind 

 us of something cheerful ; and the measured beat 

 of the thresher's flail calls up the thought that in 

 the dry and falling ear lies so much nourishment 

 and life." 



