The sun had altogether disappeared behind the pines and only the very highest of the little clouds were still pink; out at sea the mists were creeping up, and the sails of the fishing-smacks had turned a dull brown; a flight of wild geese passed across the disk of the moon with loud cacklings. “Before dark?” echoed Irais; “I should think not. It is dark now nearly in the forest, and we shall have the loveliest moonlight drive back.” “But it is surely very dangerous to let a man who goes to sleep drive you,” said Minora apprehensively. “But he’s such an old dear,” I said. “Yes, yes, no doubt,” she replied testily; “but there are wakeful old dears to be had, and on a box they are preferable.” Irais laughed. “You are growing quite amusing, Miss Minora,” she said. “He isn’t on a box to-day,” said I; “and I never knew him to go to sleep standing up behind us on a sleigh.” Peter, however, behaved beautifully on the way home, and Irais and I at least were as happy as possible driving back, with all the glories of the western sky flashing at us every now and then at the end of a long avenue as we swiftly passed, and later on, when they had faded, myriads of stars in the narrow black strip of sky over our heads. _From_ “_Elizabeth and her German Garden._” NATURE. RALPH WALDO EMERSON. The rounded world is fair to see, Nine times folded in mystery: Though baffled seers cannot impart The secret of its laboring heart, Throb thine with Nature’s throbbing breast, And all is clear from east to west. Spirit that lurks each form within Beckons to spirit of its kin; Self-kindled every atom glows, And hints the future which it owes. THERE are days which occur in this climate, at almost any season of the year, wherein the world reaches its perfection; when the air, the heavenly bodies, and the earth make a harmony, as if nature would indulge her offspring; when, in these bleak upper sides of the planet, nothing is to desire that we have heard of the happiest latitudes, and we bask in the shining hours of Florida and Cuba; when everything that has life gives sign of satisfaction, and the cattle that lie on the ground seem to have great and tranquil thoughts.