Froft, and Serenity of Weather—Severe Cold, and piercing Winds-Deep Snow A WINTER-PIECE. IS true, in the delightful Seafons HIS Tenderness, and HIS Love, are most eminently displayed. In the vernal Months, all is Beauty to the Eye, and Mufic to the Ear. The Clouds drop Fatnefs; the Air foftens into Balm; and Flowers, in rich Abundance, fpring where-ever we tread, bloom where-ever we look.Amidft the burning Heats of Summer, HE expands the Leaves, and thickens the Shades: He fpreads the cooling Arbour, to receive Us; and awakes the gentle Breeze, to fan Us: the Mofs fwells into a Couch, for the Repose of our Bodies; while the Rivulet foftly rolls, and fweetly murmurs, to foothe our Imagination. In Autumn, HIS Bounty covers the the Fields with a Profufion of yellow Treasure, and bends the Boughs with Loads of delicious Fruit. He furnishes his hofpitable Table with prefent Plenty, and prepares a copious Magazine for future Wants.But, is it only in thefe fimiling Periods of the Year, that GOD, the all-gracious GOD, is feen? Has Winter no Tokens of his Prefence? Is not Winter eloquent of his Praife? Yes:" his Way is in "the Whirl-wind." Storms and Tempests fulfil his Word, and extol his Power. Even piercing Frofts bear Witness to his Goodness, while they bid the fhivering Nations tremble at his Wrath. Be Winter then, for a while, our Theme. Perhaps, thofe barren Scenes may be fruitful of intellectual Improvement. Perhaps, that chilling Cold, which binds the Earth in icy Chains, may ferve to enlarge our Hearts, and warm them with holy Love. SEE! A Sketch of this Nature, I must acknowlege, is quite different from the Subject of the Book; and, I cannot but declare, was as far diftant from the Thoughts of the Author. But, the Defire of fever ral Acquaintance, together with an Intimation of its Usefulness, by a very polite Letter from an unknown Hand, (which has undefignedly furnished me with the best Motto I could recollect) prevailed with me to add a few defcriptive Touches, and improv ing Hints, on what is fo often experienced in these northern Regions. I hope, the Attempt I have made to oblige these Gentlemen will obtain the Approbation, or, at least, the Excuse, of my other Readers. SEE how the Day is fhortened! The Sun walks along the Edges of the fouthern Sky; juft looks upon our dejected World; and fcarcely scatters Light through the thick Air. Dim is his Appearance, languid are his Gleams, while He continues: and, like the Gay and Young in the Houfe of Mourning, He feems uneafy, till He is gone; is in Hafte to depart. -And let Him depart. Why fhould we' with for his longer Stay; fince He can fhew Us nothing, but Spectacles of Woe. The flowery World lies dead, and the tuneful Tribes are ftruck dumb. The Trees, ftript of their Verdure, and lashed by Storms, fpread their naked Arms to the enraged and relentless Heavens. Fragrance no longer floats in the Air, but chilling Damps hover, or cutting Gales blow. Nature, divefted of all her beautiful Robes, fits, like a forlorn difconfolate Widow, in her Weeds. While Winds, in doleful Accents howl, and Rains, in repeated Showers, weep. WE regret not, therefore, the fpeedy Departure of the Day. When the Room is hung with funeral Black, and difmal Objects are all around, who would wish to have the glimmering Taper kept alive; which can only difcover Scenes of Sorrow, and make the Horror vifible?. And, fince this mortal Life is little better than |