let us be very careful not to lose sight of the end proposed in our being supplied with clothing. A Christian certainly should not seek to derive his glory from the external covering of his body, but in the virtuous dispositions of his soul. Pride assumes various forms; it is elated by the most triAling advantages, and seeks for applause where none is merited. Pride is manifested by some people in the brilliancy of their silks and the splendour of their jewels, whilst others nourish it in rags. The man who studies propriety will avoid either extreme. To glory in outward ornament and external pomp is degrading to our nature; we wear clothes to preserve us against the intemperance of the air, and not to gratify the pettiness of vanity, and the insignificance of pride.

Let us also reflect a little on the state of many of our fellow-creatures, who have scarcely clothes to cover them. How many poor wretches do we see around us half-starved and half-naked, who in these severe winter days can find no shelter from the cold! Let the contemplation of these unfortunate beings induce us to feel a lively sense of the Divine goodness, which has enabled us to obtain the necessary clothing. Let us, then, remember that many people are destitute of what we so abundantly enjoy, and that it is our duty to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry, and be grateful to God for the plenty with which he has blessed us.

DECEMBER XII.

Covering of Animals.

Ir is an incontestable proof of Divine Providence, that all animals are naturally provided with that covering which is best adapted to their place of abode and mode of living. Some are clothed with hair, some with feathers, several with scales, and others with shells. This variety is a certain proof that a very skilful workman has prepared the garments of these animals; for they are not only generally adapted to the different species, but also appropriated to each particular individual. For quadrupeds, hair was the most suitable covering; and nature in giving it to them has so formed the texture of their skin, that they are hardy enough to lie down upon the ground in all kinds of weather,

and be employed in the service of man. The thick fur of some animals, whilst it secures them against the effects of cold and moisture, serves them also to cover their little ones, and to lie down more softly.

For birds, and some species of insects, feathers form the most convenient covering: besides sheltering them from cold and wet, they are so arranged as to enable them to float more easily upon the air. Feathers cover the whole body of the bird, and by their delicate structure favour its flight; they are light and hollow, and their quill contains a marrowy substance which strengthens them, while capillary filaments, interlaced into each other with much art, render them sufficiently thick to maintain the heat of the body, to preserve it from the inclemency of the weather, and to give the wings a sufficient degree of strength.

The covering of reptiles is also perfectly adapted to their mode of life. Let us examine, for instance, an earth-worm. Its body is formed of a series of small rings, and each ring is provided with a certain number of muscles, by means of which it can extend or contract its body at pleasure. They have under their skin a glutinous juice which exudes, and whose effect is to lubricate the body, that it may with greater facility make its way in the earth.

Aquatic animals are covered by a substance equally well adapted to the element in which they live. Fish could have no dress so convenient to them as scales; the shape, hardness, size, number, and position of which are admirably adapted to their mode of life.

The beauty of these various kinds of covering is also very remarkable, particularly in some species of birds and insects. The varied hues of the butterfly, and the splendid plumage of some birds, are truly admirable; in some we see all the richness of colouring, in others the most beautiful and delicate simplicity. The humming-bird, a native of America, may be justly regarded as one of the wonders of nature not larger than a bee, its plumage is so beautiful, that its neck and wings reflect the brilliancy of the rainbow. Its neck exhibits the bright red of the ruby; under the belly and wings the colour is that of gold; the thighs are green as the emerald; the feet and bill black and polished as ebony. The males have a small tuft upon their heads uniting all the colours that adorn the rest of their

body, and which the Mexican ladies wear as pendants in their ears.

We find, then, that every animal has that kind of dress which is most suitable to it: nothing is defective, nothing is superfluous; but every thing is so well arranged and perfected, even in the smallest productions of nature, that human industry and art can never imitate it. And does not this clearly demonstrate the existence of a Being, who unites infinite wisdom and goodness to a desire of rendering each creature as happy as his nature and destination will permit?

DECEMBER XIII,

Thoughts on the Ravages of Winter.

I HEAR the wind and the tempest roar. The blood freezes in my veins. The gathering gloom the fearful misgivings of my heart, concur to render the awful tumult of nature more terrible. How often does the wind sweep down cottages and palaces, and in a moment destroy the labour of years! How often are ships, and the unfortunate men who hazard their lives in a brittle bark, plunged into the dread abyss ! And how often are the sturdy oaks torn up by the roots! But thou, O Lord, art the creator and the ruler of the storm. The tempests and the winds are thy messengers, the heralds of thy power, and the ministers of thy will. They should lead us to fear and to adore thee. Didst thou not set limits to their destructive power, they continually, and in all places, would cause the same ravages; yet, thanks to that wisdom which stills the winds, the lowly cottage is still preserved, though unsheltered from the rude blast of the storm.

If the creation, and all mundane events, are the works and effects of infinite wisdom, how can the disorder, desolation, and destruction, occasioned by tempests, ever hap pen? Can almighty intelligence produce any thing but order? or can supreme goodness design any other end than what is good? Thus thy thoughts wander, O man; but what art thou that thus interrogatest thy Creator? Shall man say unto his God, Why hast thou thus created me? And because we cannot explain the mysteries of nature, shall

we say that the works of Providence are defective? Ta judge of his works, and of the ends which he has proposed, would require an intelligence and wisdom equal to his own. It is, indeed, wonderful that we are capable of perceiving a part of the order which he has established, of embracing a part of the wise and immense plan which he has executed, and that, considering the darkness of our understanding, things are not still more confused than they are.

To make a whole of the materials which compose the visible world, where so many superb phenomena are produced, so many beauties displayed, and the treasures of reason, virtue, and felicity, abundantly enjoyed by myriads of living creatures, is a work so vast and wonderful, that it could alone be effected by a Being all-powerful, wise, and good. The farther our researches penetrate into the works of nature, the more the goodness and wisdom, which has created all, and governs all, is manifested.

After these considerations, we shall form a different opinion respecting the ravages of winter. The tempests, the frost, and the snow, and all the phenomena peculiar to this season, which can be considered as disagreeable, are linked together in the eternal order of things; each having its sea. son and appointed time, and all contributing to the general harmony of the universe. The wind that affrights the mariner upon the ocean drives water upon dry lands. The sulphurous vapours, salt, and other matters, carried by the wind from one country to another, revive the earth, and restore fertility to the fields, which have been exhausted by their frequent crops. Thus winter, apparently so destructive, enables our meadows again to yield us rich fruit. The fields, the gardens, and the seeds, now repose beneath ice and snow. All nature appears dead. But God, during this apparent suspension of vitality, preserves the world, and watches our suffering nature. He feeds and supports the poor, and even neglects not the starved shivering birds, for whom he provides places of retreat.

and thou enablest Thou clothest the

'Lord, thou art great! In the most tempestuous seasons thou art merciful and compassionate. From amid the ice and the snow thou preparest food for us; us to bear the severity of the cold. naked; thou strengthenest the weak; they live and are prosperous. Teach us to know thee, and to acknowledge.

thee as our friend and benefactor. Cause thy goodness to kindle a holy rapture in our hearts; to breathe in us such love that we can feel kindness for our enemy, clothe him when naked, feed him when hungry, and wipe away his tears when in distress! When, for thy sake, the poor man shares his morsel with him who is destitute, condescend to reward his labour of love. While time shall endure, winter and summer, seed-time and harvest, shall succeed each other, and thy blessings shall cover thy creation.'

DECEMBER XIV.

Sagacity of Animals in procuring Sustenance
for the Winter.

THERE are some animals which, during the harvest time, ·lay up stores for the winter, containing provisions for six months: thus appearing to foresee that a season would come, in which they could not obtain their accustomed food, and that provident of the future, they know how to calculate the quantity of provisions that will suffice for both them and their families. Amongst insects, bees are almost the only species that lay up provisions for the winter. They use their wax with great economy, because they cannot gather any more when the season of flowers is passed, and when they have no other means of subsisting, and constructing their cells, than the stores they have previously secured. They have also the sagacity to collect another sort of matter, which is necessary to secure their hives from the effects of cold; and this is a sort of glue that they obtain from flowers and bitter plants, and with which they closely stop up every crevice in their hives. They waste nothing, observing the strictest economy, and what they do not at present want, they reserve for future occasions. We are even informed by those who have carefully observed their habits, that when in winter they uncover the cells that contain the honey, they lay by the wax which closed them for future use.

Amongst quadrupeds, the hamster and the field-mouse lay up provisions for winter, and, during the time of harvest, convey a quantity of grain into their subterranean dwell -ings. Among birds, magpies and jays collect acorns during