Emerson obviously reveres nature and believes that one should maintain a sense of awe and wonder that children have in appreciating natural beauty. Also he states that nature does not display a mean appearance for example in such things as glorious sunsets ore even in menacing natural phenomena like erupting volcanoes at night time the pyroclastics cascading down the slopes of the volcano are beautiful. He speaks of the "integrity of impression made by manifold natural objects" and this is reminiscent of Alexander Von Humboldt when he and his partner Bonpland the botanist first arrived in what became known as Venezuela they were both drunk by the myriad wonderful aspects of the lush vegetation in all its tropical splendor. Emerson said "a wild delight runs through the man in spite of sorrows" at the sight of nature and that is what Humboldt and Bonpland experienced especially since they were natural scientists so could appreciate the natural environment much more.
I'm not sure if these are answers? BUT I would say the setting explains what's happening and where they are, which give you a better idea on what's happening and lets you imagine, and understand the story more clearly.
