"Awed by the progress of time, winter, ushered into existence by the howling of storms, and the rushing of impetuous torrents, and contemplating, with the satisfaction of a giant, the ruins of the year, still affords ample food for enjoyments, which the vulgar never dream of, if sympathy and association diffuse their attractive spells around us! In the bosom of retirement, how delightful is it to feel exempt from the mean intrigues, the endless difficulties and tumults, which active life ensures, and which retirement enables us so well to contemplate through the telescope of recollection. When seated by the cheerful fire among friends, loving and beloved, our hopes, our wishes, and our pleasures are concentrated; the soul seems imparadised in an enchanted circle; and the world, vain, idle, and offensive as it is, presents nothing to the judgment, and little to the imagination, that can induce the enlightened or the good to regret, that the knowledge they possess of it is chiefly from the report of others, or from the tumultuous murmur, which from a distance invades the tranquillity of their retreat, and operates as a discord in a soft sonata. These are the moments which affect us more than all the harmony of Italy, or all the melody of Scotland--moments, in which we appear almost to emulate the gods in happiness." "Change," in the quaint language of Feltham, "is the great lord of the universe, and Time is the agent which brings all things under his dominion." This has been demonstrated through our past calendar of monthly characteristics; to which are subjoined, from a still more quaint authority than Feltham, said to be printed in the reign of Henry VII., in a Sarum black-letter missal: THE MONTHS MORALIZED. (_From our Correspondent, M.L.B._) _Januarius._ The fyrst six yeres of mannesbyrth and aege May well be compared to Janyere, For in this moneth, is no strengeth nor courage More than in a chylde of the aege of six yere. _Februarius._ The other six yeres is like February, In the end thereof beguyneth (1) the Sprynge, That tyme chyldren is moost asst and redy To receyve chastysement, nurture and lernynge. _Martinus._ March betokeneth the six yeres followynge, Arayeng the erthe with pleasaunt verdure; That season youth thought for nothynge, And wothout thought dooth his sporte and pleasure. _Aprilis._ The next six yere maketh four-and-twenty, And figured is to jolly Aprill That tyme of pleasures man hath most plenty Fresh, and louying (2) his lustes tofulfyll. _Maius._ As in the moneth of Maye all thing in mygth (3) So at thirty yeres man is in chief lyking, Pleasaunt and lustie to every mannes sygth, (4) In beauti and strengthe to women pleasynge. _Junius._ In June, all thyns falleth to rypenesse, And so dooth man at Ihirty-six yere old, And studyetli for to acquyre rychesse. And taketh a wyfe, to keepe his householde. _Julius._