Page 124 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

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the songs of· gladness ; during the day, the thrush and blackbird are heard above the rest, and in the evening, the sweet nightingale; r all birds it is the season of love and of exquisite enjoyment. It is equal­ ly so r animals of other kinds; in voured England, r instance, in April and Iay, the whole ce of the country resounds with lowing, and bleating, and
barking of joy. Even man, the master of the whole, whose mind embraces all times and places, is r om being insensible to the chan e of season. His far-seeing reason, of course, draws delight om the anticipation of autumn, with its uits; and his benevolence rejoices in the happiness observed among all in rior creatures ; but independently of these considerations, on his own ame the returning warmth e erts a direct in uence. In his early li , when the natural sensibilities are yet esh and un­ altered by the habits of arti cial society, spring, to man, is always a season of delight. The eyes brighten, the whole countenance is animated, and the heart feels as if new life were come, and has longings r esh objects of endearment. Of those who have passed their early years in the country, there are few, who, in their morning walks in spring, have not experienced, without very de nite cause, a kind of tumultuous joy, of which the natural ex­ pression would have been, how good the God of na­ ture is to us ! Spring, thus, is a time when sleeping
J sensibility is roused to el that there lies in nature . more than the grosser sense perceives. The heart is then thrilled with sudden ecstacy, and wakes to as­
RE DING LESSONS.
pirations of sweet acknowledgment.
ARNO .