THE SCHOOL-HOUSE. 
367 
justice, and self- discipline. Neglect of these points becomes 
treachery to them, treachery to om* God. And without these, 
though complete in every other point, what is the education of an 
individual ? However showy in other respects, without these 
what is the education of a nation ? 
November, Wednesday, \st. — Decided frost last night ; yet very 
mild this morning. Bright, cloudless day. Long walk on the 
hills. The woods are getting bare ; even the willows and abele- 
trees are thinning. The larches are deep orange ; their evergreen 
forms look oddly in this bright color. 
The lake ultramarine blue. Saw several butterflies and parties 
of gnats. A full flock of snow-birds were feeding before a cot- 
tage door ; and among them was a large, handsome fox-colored 
sparrow, one of the handsomest birds of its tribe. It seemed quite 
at ease among the snow-birds. 
Thursday, 2c?. — Very pleasant. Dehghtful walk in the woods. 
Some of the forest-trees are budding again. Found pipsissiwa 
and a ground-laurel, with their floAvers in bud : the first plant blooms 
regularly about Christmas in some parts of the country, but 1 have 
never heard of its flowering here in winter. Gathered a pretty bunch 
of bead-ruby ; the transparent berries quite perfect, and the cluster 
unusually large. The mosses in flower in some spots ; the hand- 
some Hypnum splendcns, with its red stems, and some of the other 
feather mosses, Hypnum crista-castrensisj (&c., (&c. Ferns, sheltered 
by w^oods, in fine preservation. The earth thickly strewed with 
fallen leaves, completely covering the track, and in many places 
burying the lesser plants — a broad, unbroken carpeting of russet. 
This was especially the case where chestnut-trees were numerous. 
