The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-02-05
ss The Snow Of Winter. sa, aa
Ia fres translation from the Gsrwan q
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BY THOMAS y. BRYAN.

i When lovely spring or Summer morning, va
ried magnihcencs Of nature delights our eye, an
invisible sea Of balmy odor floating around as.
gentle breezes waiting toward us, and the chrP
of the beetle, the buzz of the bee, aud the wnrb-
lings of birds uniting in melodious concert; or
when the rich autumn gids the tall crops, bows
down the branches Of the bushes and trees with
berries and fruits Of every kind, and adorns the
FORESTS Of foliage Of yaregated hue; then we sx-
perience that quiet joy which only the gentle
Pleasantness Of nature can produce, and the soul
Of the tue Christian u induced TO grateful adora-
! ton Of the all bouniiful Creator. aaa
Not less, however, is the festive magnifcenes
OF clear, winter mern, when all things are firm
with the cold the early sunbeam plays upon the
bright Frost, and crystal ;ciclss from the hands Of
nature hang from every branch like. gintering
diamonds, or when hiI!a, valleys aud plains are
like brilliant in their pure and saaiful attire of
snow, upon the delicate" aud icy points Of which
the sun . rays sport in many cOlors; when this
bright aud sivery mantle, which covers alike for
rests and the habitatons of men, has metamor-
phosed the wide spreading landscape into beau
iifnl uniformity, in which we scarcely recognize
ourselves, and fancy we have been, as by a magic
charm, transported to ssme foreign CLINE. The
winter landscape, the simplicity yet dazzling
beauty OF its veil, the profound stiffness far and
near, awake in US inyoiuntarlly sentiments ac-
cordng with the sublimity in nature. Who, if be
does not journey through bis days with dull and
ungratefui apathy, is not affected by these exalt
Ing sentiments! .r,t1, ..at.s. aa. Iga $3.50. sa,
1t is not the universal stiffness which reigns
over the snow clad plants; not the icy jewels
which adorn both twig and branch; not the mir
ror surface Of the ice on river and lake, which
are worthy of our admitting wonder; but the
creative power Of the Father OF the Universe.
and the plenttade Of his divine goodness Thus
did na yid crute,p nj fl,a ,xnnIars of nstnrs
Even did his adorins soul ascend from the incom-
prehensible grandeur of creation TO the Olnnipo-
tent trea s&Croat Is tho Lord - he sang sand
great is his power; yea, and bis wisdom is inf.
mite" He giveth snow like wool, and scaiiereth
the hoar frost like ashes. He casteh his ice like
morseIs; who is able to abide his frosts'
Yes, great IS he, and incomprehensible, as he
governs. But how few are they who sensi-
Bile Of the greatness and mysterious wonder dis
played in the benevolent appearances Of nature !!
Like unto the raven that flies ever the snowy
fields in guest Of food, and incapable Of other
thoughts, is the man who, indifferent 10 the ma
jority Of nature around him, seeks only profit or
pleasure. . .-
And yet, each single snow fake, as it floats
down from its cloud, is q subject Of wonder, and
proclaims He is great and incomprehenslbe, as
he governs. How do these mighty masses of deli
catey frozen waiei originate in the chambers Of
| tne heavens: w no noidS moss Welgnfy Voipaies
| Of snow, under which the branches of the trees
are broken, and many hu,s are hidden from sight
which in the aggregate, are Of many ihouss nd
tons of weight; yet which float with feather
llghtness, and long invisible, in The expanse Of the
heavens, in order that they may noI sink to earth
till the proper time, and then SO softly as 10 be
harmless, and which give u nourishing warmth
to the seeds of the fields, the food for the ensuing
! year for man and beast. rs- ..a..
! II we examine with minuteness the falling
snow we will observe, particularly if the air be
calm, that each fake consists of q number Of ex-
ceedingiy delicate particles Of ice, which uni.
ted together with wonderful regularity. Thus
they usually form little, six corded and finely
united stars, the half transparent crystals OF
which are e1quisileIy pointed. Now they may
be iikened unto fbrous flowers, as If Of braided
moss; now they resemble feathers, and now the y
assume The form of fir with its regular points Of
shooting out Of each other. So extremely deli
cate are these heavenly images, that the gep'les
breeze sewers them, sud gives them another
form. a
With whatever penetration man may oontem-
plate. and with whatever ingenuity he may On.
deavor TO account for the origin, in ihe heights OF
the atmosphere, ofthese my rads OF starry crystals
Of inin,itable beauty and wondrous shape there
must ever remain to the inquirer an unanswerable
how'--[ Presbyt Of the West.