A RAMBLE IN THE WOODS. 58 AND HE SPAKE OF TREES, FROM THE CEDAR TREE THAT IS IN LEBANON EVEN UNTO THE HYSSOP THAT SPRINGETH OUT OF THE WALL, 1 KINGS IV. 33. WHOEVER has walked abroad on a spring morning, when the trees of the field were richly clothed with their covering of fresh green leaves; or in the season of summer, when the fragrant blossoms hung thick on every branch; or in autumn, while the ripe fruit gladdened the heart; or in the frosty days of winter, when every spray was finely powdered over with frozen snow; whoever has thus rambled at sun-rise, or sunset, or in the broad blaze of mid-day, with a heart touched with a sense of B God's goodness and an eye quick to discern and admire the works of his hands, will not think it a waste of time to dwell a little on the subject of Trees. Every thing that the hands of our heavenly Father have made, is capable of affording us a lesson of usefulness or instruction; but some parts of the creation are more pleasing to us than others, and seem better adapted to furnish us with reflections of a profitable nature. It is the province of wisdom to select proper objects, and to pursue them in the way the most likely to attain them; for if the object we set before us be worthless, or improperly sought after, even our success itself will only yield us disappointment and mortification. A Chinese was once seen filing away very industriously at a bar of iron, and when asked what he was filing the iron for, replied that he intended to make a needle of it. What a long time must this man have consumed uselessly! how trifling was the object he had in view, compared with the labour of attaining it! and how much time might he have de4 |