The Work Of Nature In The Months.

" There is not one student , no , not one man , m a thousand , who can feel the beauty of a system , or even take it clearly into his head ; but nearly all men can understand and most will be interested in , the facts which bear on daily life . Botanists have discovered some wonderful connection between Nettles and Figs , which a cow boy who will never see a ripe fig in his life need not be at all troubled abeut ; but it will he interesting to him to know what affect Nettles have on hay , and what taste they will

give to porridge ; and it will give him nearly a new life if he can be got but once in a spring time , to look at the beautiful circlet of Dead Nettle blossoms , and work out with his schoolmaster the curves of its petals , and the way it is set on its central mast . ' ' One beautiful flower we shall find on a kind of semi-shrub , we mean the Yellow Whin , or Gorse , or Furze . We look upon it as hardy , therefore , common , and consequently well-nigh beneath notice ; not so the great Swedish Naturalist , who , when he saw our heaths covered with the plant that in his country was only to be found in the greenhouses , was filled with joy —•

" Linnmus Knelt before it on the sod , For its beauty thanking God . " What a lesson to us not to desjvise the very commonest of our blessings , which may be to others inestimable treasures . It is thus improperly that Goldsmith des gnates this plant , which lights up every

bank with a golden glow of beauty , as" the Mo ; SOtticd Furze , unprofitably gay . " " Unprofitably " indeed ; what say the birds , and bees , and butterflies 1—and what the young cattle that delightedly browse on its green and tender shoots 1 Knapp remarks that in WalesDevon and Cornwallthe plant assumes the form of largedense

, , , green balls , every tender leaf of which is constantly cropped by sheep and rabbits . Its very roots are usefiil , binding together loose soil , for which purpose it is often grown on hillsides . Several poets tell of its beauty , blooming still when rains and winds have shorn other jdants of their flowers , aud

remaining" A token to the wintry earth that beauty liveth still . " One well-known shrub there is which blossoms now , the Hazel . Who does not know the Catkins , so dear to the children's hearts ? their ' pussy-cats " they call them ; these are the male flowers of the plant . But if we would see beauty in a tiny form , let us search its branches for the female blossom , which we shall find in the shape of little buds surmounted by fringes of brilliant crimson threads . Small , then , though our collection of flowers may be , it gives us hope of brighter days in store ; Hope , that blessing of our Heavenly Father

!" There is a star that cheers our way , Along this dreary world of woe , That tips with light the waves of life , However bitterly they flow . 'Tis Hope I tis Hope ! that blessed star Which peers through Misery's darkest cloud ; And only sets where Death has brought The pall , the tombstone , and the shroud . "

To this , then , and that which lies beyond it , let us look ; neglecting not the thrilling lessons of Nature ' s yearly death , and as-often-recurring resurrection : thus taught , let us practise the teaching , then shall we surely find the words come true — " If thou would'st reap in love , First sow in holy fear ; So life a winter ' s morn may prove To a bright endless year . "