modern Germany, we must separate those which dwell in cities and towns; pay attention to the numerous colonies that have emigrated from Germany; observe that most of the forests being now cut down, and the space they occupied converted into arable land, ancient Germany would then be found to contain scarcely a tenth part of the cultivated ground that it now does, and, consequently, but a tenth part as many inhabitants. How many millions of men were there less at that period than there are at present! and how abundantly must they have multiplied since! Yet the forests which extend from Germany to the north-east of Asia, and those still remaining in Africa and America, prove that our globe is not near so well peopled as it might be. The farther we penetrate into the remote ages of an. tiquity, the less shall we find the earth peopled and cultivated, till we reach the epoch of the origin of the human race.

It is, therefore, impossible that our globe should have been eternal; for if it had, it must have been as well peopled from time immemorial as it is at present.

DECEMBER III.

The Use of Wood.

THOUGH We derive very great and numerous advantages from every part of a tree, yet none of them can be com pared to those which the wood itself affords us. Such is its abundance, that we might say God provides us every day with a fresh supply, that we might never be destitute of so useful a substance. It answers every purpose for which we design it; is pliant enough to be susceptible of any form in which we mean to mould it; firm enough to retain any shape it has once received; and being easily sawed, polished, and bent, we procure from it many conveniences and ornaments. These, however, are far from being all the advantages which we derive from wood, as most of them only contribute to the purposes of convenience or luxury. We have more indispensable necessities, which we could not supply if the wood did not possess a suitable degree of thickness and solidity. Nature, it is true, furnishes us with many hard compact substances; we have stones and marbles, which we know how to adapt to different purposes.

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But it is troublesome, as well as expensive, to extract these from their quarries, to carry them to a distance, and to work them; whilst with much less expense, and less trouble, we can procure the largest trees. Wooden piles, several feet long, forced into the earth, form a safe foundation for walls, which, without this precaution, would sink into the clay, or fall where the ground was sandy. They also support the most heavy and extensive buildings; and other pieces of wood sustain the stone-work, and the weight of the tiles, lead, &c. which compose the roofs of our houses.

Wood, in many provinces, is used as the chief article of fuel; and thus cheers the shivering nätives in the long nights of winter, when the cold mists, and piercing north winds, would otherwise have chilled their blood. How necessary, then, is wood, as a part of the creation! and we now see that it was for the wisest purposes that the Author of the universe covered so large a portion of the earth's surface with forests.

Whilst reflecting on the comfort and warmth which wood affords us at this season of the year, we may thus address ourselves to God: Compassionate Father! this also is one of thy blessings: I receive it from thee with a lively sense of gratitude; and acknowledge thy providential care in providing for me the grateful warmth which cheers and invigorates my frozen limbs. Whether I endure the scorching days of summer, or feel the winter's piercing cold; in the open air, or in a warm apartment, thou art ever present, and ever, my benefactor. Let me not forget thy mercies, nor regard even the fire-wood with indifference; but as in each season of the year I receive peculiar marks of thy goodness, may I never cease to bless and to glorify thee, and exalt thy beneficence.'

DECEMBER IV.

Remarkable Properties of certain Animals. WE daily enjoy a variety of advantages which we derive from animals. The Creator has given us some that live domesticated with us, and others for our sustenance; and all, in one way or another, are designed to minister to our necessities and pleasures.

The dog, independently of the beauty of his form, his strength, speed, and vivacity, has all those qualities which endear him to man. He possesses great sensibility, is much improved by education, and is every way worthy of our affection and regard. He knows how to promote our designs, watch for our safety, defend and caress us by turns; and by his assiduous services, and generous disposition, renders himself highly useful and agreeable to his masters. Without the assistance of this faithful servant we could not so easily subjugate other animals. In short, it seems as if God had given the dog to man for a companion, and a guard. This very interesting animal merits still farther attention from his performing many actions, which prove that he is not merely a machine, but possesses some principle of intelligence. How expressive are the signs by which he manifests the joy he feels upon his master's return! And how different again, are those that he discovers upon the approach of a thief or an enemy, or when in full cry he pursues the hare, as she bounds over the plains!

The advantages which we derive from the sheep are still more considerable, though it has not the gift of pleasing like the dog. Every part of the sheep is useful to us; its milk, wool, flesh, and even its bones. A singular property observable in this animal is that of its chewing the cud, or ruminating: it at first swallows its food hastily, without sufficiently masticating it; and afterward can again bring it into its mouth, re-chew, and swallow it a second time. This animal has but one row of teeth, which defect, how. ever, is remedied by its having four stomachs. In the first of these, which is called the paunch, and is very large, the food is softened and moistened; in the second, named the cap, or hood, and which is much smaller, the food is farther macerated, and digestion begins to make some progress; from this it passes into the third stomach, called the millet, where it is retained till it is sufficiently dissolved; and digestion is finally perfected in the fourth stomach, called the rennet bag, in which the food changes its colour, and becomes white like milk, though in the third stomach it was green.

The hare possesses instinct for its own preservation, and sagacity to enable it to escape from it enemies; it makes its own form or bed, and in winter chooses those places

which have a southern aspect, while in summer it prefers the north. It conceals itself in furrows, or by the side of hillocks, that nearly resemble the colour of its skin. When pursued by dogs, it darts rapidly forwards, then turns, and returns upon its steps, throws itself into some secret place, and after many leaps and doublings, hides itself in the trunk of a tree, or in some bush. It is cunning enough continually to change its place of abode as circumstances may urge.

The stag is still more wily and subtle than the hare, and often leads the huntsmen a much more arduous chase. The lightness and elegance of its slender and well-proportioned form; its branching horns, serving both for ornament and defence; its size, speed, and strength, distinguish it from all the inhabitants of the wood, the solitude of which it seems formed to embellish and to enliven.

When we reflect on these and innumerable other animals, we find more and more cause to acknowledge the goodness with which the Almighty provides for our support, our convenience, and our pleasures. Our globe is the habitation of innumerable animals, which are under our command, and exist for our comfort and sustenance. And if the soil of the earth is so diversified, it is only that a greater number of animated being may find there provisions adapted to their different natures. All kinds of soil, good as well as bad, sandy or marshy, stony or moist, from the banks of rivers to the summits of mountains, are peopled with living creatures, which in one shape or another are indispensable to us. There is no place, however sterile it may appear, that does not support some species of animals that are useful to us. And shall not man, thus indebted to the Father of mercy, acknowledge his goodness, and be grateful for his favours? Can he remain insensible to the many blessings he daily receives, or pass over with inattention those gifts of nature which he enjoys?

DECEMBER V.

Formation of Snow.

SNOW is a species of hoar-frost; it differs, however, in this particular, that the hoar-frost falls in the form of dew, upon the surface of certain cold bodies which attract its moisture,

and to which it adheres; whilst the snow, before it falls, is already formed in the upper region of the atmosphere by congealed vapours, which observe the same laws in falling as fogs, dew, and rain. The air is often very cold, and this may be increased to a considerable degree by the density of the atmosphere, and the accession of acid vapours. It is then very easy to understand how the aqueous particles become congealed. What, perhaps, contributes the most to give this freezing property to the air are the clouds; and generally every snowy day is also cloudy; and the thicker the clouds are, the more they interrupt the rays of the sun, and prevent their action; whence must naturally result a degree of cold great enough to make the vapours lose their fluidity, and convert them into snow. But, upon the same principle, ought it not sometimes to snow in summer? No doubt this may happen, and snow may really be formed in the superior regions of the atmosphere; but the cold in that season is never sufficiently strong to counterbalance the effects of the heat reflected from the earth, which melts the congealed vapours as they approach the lower regions of the atmosphere; consequently they cannot then appear in the form of snow. This is far from being the case in winter; as it is then so cold in the lower regions of the atmosphere, and upon the surface of the earth, that the frozen vapours in falling can no longer receive a sufficient degree of heat to melt them.

It is a pleasing sight to contemplate the flakes of snow as they fall; in a few moments covering the whole surface of the earth, far as the eye can reach; and it admirably justifies what was said by the pious Brookes, when he told us that even snow has its charms, and winter its sweets, Pure and innocent pleasures may be enjoyed by all men, except those who, for want of cultivating their faculties, are become incapable of reflecting, and never regard the works of God.'

DECEMBER VI.

Winter Plants.

It is wrong to suppose that winter is generally destructive to plants and trees. So far from it, there can be no doubt