Snow-flakes : A chapter from the book of nature by Israel P. Warren

"Snow-flakes" by Israel P. Warren is a devotional natural history tract written in the mid-19th century. It examines snow’s crystal forms and winter landscapes to draw moral and theological lessons, blending simple natural description with Scripture, anecdotes, and poetry to kindle wonder and reverence for the Creator. The opening of this tract sets a modest aim: accurate, nontechnical sketches of snow-crystals drawn chiefly from Nettis, Scoresby, and Glaisher, with practical advice for observing flakes on a chilled pane of glass. Early chapters explain three basic crystal types (prismatic, pyramidal, lamellar) and their endless hexagonal variations, note broad weather links to different forms, and emphasize their precise symmetry, purity, and beauty as signs of divine order. Brief essays then move from grace and beauty to weakness and power—showing the flake’s fragility, its cumulative might in storms and drifts, and the cheer of sleighs and schoolyard play alongside winter’s perils—before turning to beneficence: snow as reservoir for great rivers, an insulating and light-brightening mantle, and a layered alpine cover that protects plant life. Throughout, Scripture texts and poems punctuate the observations, tying natural facts to spiritual reflections. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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About this eBook

Author Warren, Israel P. (Israel Perkins), 1814-1892
Title Snow-flakes : A chapter from the book of nature
Original Publication Boston: American Tract Society, 1863.
Credits Tim Lindell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Language English
LoC Class BV: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Christianity: Practical theology, Worship
LoC Class QC: Science: Physics
Subject Christian life
Subject Gift books
Subject Snowflakes
Subject Snow -- Literary collections
Category Text
EBook-No. 77946
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Feb 16, 2026
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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