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itself by the perfume it imparts to the surrounding air. The peach, the nectarine, the almond, apricot, and cherry trees come into full bud during this month; the sallow enlivens the hedges with its catkins full of yellow dust; and the leaves of the honey suckle are nearly expanded.

In the latter part of the month of March the equinox happens, when day and night are of an equal length all over the globe; or rather, when the sun is an equal time above and below the horizon: for the morning and evening twilight make apparent day considerably longer than night. This takes place again in September. The former is called the vernal, the latter the autumnal equinox,

Winds and Tempests.

WITH what violence the air is agitated! Hear how the winds roar in the upper regions! Behold, how the clouds gather! how rapidly they fly! what deluges of rain they pour upon the earth! How terrible the force of the winds! they tear up the largest oaks; they throw down palaces they shake the foundation of the earth; and perhaps, alas! at this moment, some unhappy ship is dragged into the abyss by the violence of the storm. Before the fury of the tempest abates, there may be some millions of families ruined; and more still who will be plunged into the greatest misery, by the death of their relations and friends. But why does the Wise and Beneficent Sovereign of the world thus permit the winds to spread terror and destruction by sea and land! Mad question! What temerity to dare, judge, and censure the government of a Being infinitely wise! Ought we not

rather

rather to reflect on his ways with respectful silence, and be persuaded they are always full of goodness? If whirlwinds and tempests make terrible ravages; if they shatter ships, or plunge them whole into the bottom of the sea if they overthrow buildings, and destroy men and animals; have we a right, for that reason, to blame the ame tire government of the Lord?

They who calculate with so much care the mischief this element occasions, have they reckoned the advan tages which accrue from it? Audacious mortals! admire and adore the Sovereign of the world, who can even make storms contribute to the good of the universe. It is, in reality, by the particular direction of Providence, that towards spring, storms and tempests usually arise. At the return of that fine season, the moist and mild air opens the earth, which had been closed all the winter. By this change of temperature, the air, which the cold had purified, is again filled with hurtful vapours. Plagues and epidemic disorders would soon destroy men and ani mals, if the air, by being agitated with storms, was not restored to its purity and wholesomeness. By that means not only the vapours, which would otherwise stagnate, are put in motion, but also vapours of different natures being violently agitated, in every sense, it makes a happy mixture, more healthful to mankind, and more fruitful for the earth. Thus, even in the midst of storms and tempests, the Lord is benefactor to his creatures. Every time I hear the winds roar above me, I will acknowledge his goodness, and think, with grateful recollection, on the wisdom of his government.

SEEDS.

ALL vegetables spring from seeds; but the greater

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number of these are not sown, and are even invisible to us. It is nature that disperses them. With this view she has furnished some seeds with a sort of light down, or little feathers, which serve as wings for the wind to carry them away, and spread them every where, Other seeds are small and heavy enough to fall perpendicularly on the earth, and to sink of themselves into it. Others of a larger or lighter sort, which might be carried away by the wind, have one or more little hooks to catch, and prevent them from going too far from their place. There are some inclosed in elastic cases, which (as soon as they are touched, or acquire a certain degree either of dryness or moisture,) are driven or cast to more conve nient distances. And what is still more admirable, is, that nature seems to have given to some birds the care of planting trees. They sow the nuts which afterwards shoot and grow, Ravens have been thus seen to plant oaks and this is their method: They make a hole with their bill, and drop an acorn into it, which they after. wards cover with earth and moss. It must not be sup. posed they do all this with an intention to plant trees, It is instinct alone which prompts them. They bury the acorn for their food,, It shoots, and becomes an oak.

Many seeds by their agreeable taste and smell, invite the birds to swallow them; and thus transport them. here and there, and render them fruitful by the heat of their bowels. After having kept them some time on their stomachs, they let them fall on the ground, where they take root, shoot, blossom, and produce new seeds.

Let:

Let us here admire the wise and tender care of Pravi. If the sowing of seeds in meadows and forests had been intirely left to mankind, in what a bad condi. tion would they be? Observe, how, at the return of spring, the grass and flowers spring up, and adorn the earth, without our having in any degree contributed towards it. Tender and Merciful Father! how great is thy love towards thy creatures! and how admirable is thy wisdom! But this is not all that is to be admired in respect to seeds. It is remarkable, that the whole plant, however great it may be, is all concealed in the narrow space of the seed. The whole trunk of the oak, its leaves, branches, and root are already in the acorn. As

the

préservation and propagation of all species depends greatly on the seed, the Creator has taken care to protect' it sufficiently. The plants which remain all the year in the ground, how carefully are their blossoms and seeds inclosed during winter in the buds, where they are well protected, and covered with close coats of curi ous texture. As for those plants which cannot bear the cold of winter, they are preserved under ground by their rocts or fruit, till the mild warmth of spring makes them bud again. Some seeds are lodged in the middle of the fruit ; others in pods and shells; some in wooden cases and ceds. Eut every seed is protected and preserved in the manner most suitable to its nature. Every where we may trace the Divine Creator. The minutest works of nature prove his wisdom and goodness.

Shrove-tide, Pancake Tuesday, Fastern's E'en what they signify.

SHROVE TIDE signifieth the time of confessing sins, as the word tide, which signifies time; and the Saxon word shrive or shrift, which signifies confession, plainly. shew. The reason why this time is so denominated, is,. because it was set apart by the church of Rome for a time of shriving or confessing sins, For then people

were wont to confess their sins, and receive the sacra ment that they might be better prepared for the religious observation of the following season of Lent.

This custom of confessing to the priest at this time, was laid aside by our church at the reformation.

PANCAKE TUESDAY, is also called in the North Fastens, or Fastern's E'en, or even, or Shrove Tuesday; the succeeding day being Ash-Wednesday, the first of the Lenten fast.

A kind of pancake feast preceding Lent, was used in the Greek Church, from whence we have probably bor rowed it, with pasche eggs, and other such like ceremo

nies.

A Description of that Horrid Diversion the Welsh-main.

SUPPOSE sixteen pair of Cocks-of these the sixteen conquerors, are pitted the second time-the eight conquerors of these are pitted a third time-the four of these a fourth time-and lastly, the two conquerors of these are pitted a fifth time; so that, incredible barbar

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