PLEASURE OF THE STUDY. 7 



June are no doubt as completely distinct, nay, as much 

 contrasted, as would be those of different individuals 

 living in. distant regions. Should anyone doubt this, 

 let him compare his emotions during a morning walk 

 in spring with those in a summer noon, when he 

 stretches " his listless length" under some " nodding 

 beech," or with those he experiences when he draws 

 his chair closer to the fire on Christmas eve. To this 

 fertile £eld for observation, I solicit your attention : 

 it has one advantage over most other subjects of 

 inquiry, that you have ever the materials for its 

 prosecution within you and around you. 



The pursuit I more especially recommend, namely, 

 the study of Natural History, in its widest signification, 

 would, I am persuaded, be to you, my dear Arnold, a 

 source, of gratification, " ever charming," yet " ever 

 new.". But I will candidly own I am not altogether 

 disinterested, and that I am anxious to procure your 

 co-operation and assistance in a project which I yet 

 hope to accomplish. I am anxious to ascertain if poetry 

 and natural history might not " each give to each a 

 double charm " — if poetry might not lend " thoughts 

 that breathe, and words that burn," to declare the 

 wonders that natural history unfolds. Reality, in this 

 case, is more wonderful than fiction ; yet the reality 

 is not brought home to the minds and hearts of men, 

 as it wovJd be if arrayed in the glowing garb of 



