Bells at a distance-Their effect.-A fine noon in winter.-A sheltered walk.-Meditation better than books. Our familiarity with the course of nature makes it appear less wonderful than it is.-The transformation that spring effects in a shrubbery de scribed. A mistake concerning the course of nature corrected.-God maintains it by an unremitted act. -The amusements fashionable at this hour of the day reproved.--Animals happy, a delightful sight.— Origin of cruelty to animals.-That it is a great crime proved from Scripture.-That proof illustrated by a tale.-A line drawn between the lawful and unlawful destruction of them.-Their good and useful properties insisted on.-. -Apology for the encomiums bestowed by the author on animals.-Instances of man's extravagant praise of man.—The groans of the creation shall have an end.—A view taken of the restoration of all things.-An invocation and an invitation of Him who shall bring it to pass.-The retired man vindicated from the charge of uselessness.— Conclusion. THE TASK. BOOK VI. THE WINTER WALK AT NOON. THERE is in souls a sympathy with sounds, Is touch'd within us, and the heart replies. In cadence sweet, now dying all away, Clear and sonorous, as the gale comes on! With easy force it opens all the cells Where Mem'ry slept. Wherever I have heard A kindred melody, the scene recurs, 10 And with it all it's pleasures and it's pains. Such comprehensive views the spirit takes, (As in a map the voyager his course) The windings of my way through many years. It seem'd not always short; the rugged path, 20 Mov'd many a sigh at it's disheart'ning length. How readily we wish time spent revok❜d, We miss'd that happiness we might have found! Some friend is gone, perhaps, his son's best friend, A father, whose authority, in show When most severe, and must'ring all it's force, Was but the graver countenance of love; 30 Whose favour, like the clouds of spring, might low'r, And utter now and then an awful voice, But had a blessing in it's darkest frown, His shelt'ring side, and wilfully forewent 40 That converse, which we now in vain regret. The boy's neglected sire! a mother too, And makes the World the wilderness it is, 50 |