4 DROPS OF WATER. 



still remain ignorant of some of them. And this 

 fact forms a parallel case to that relating to the 

 stars ; for astronomers have informed us, that, by 

 the increased power of their telescopes, myriads 

 of stars have been discovered, beyond those seen 

 without this powerful aid, and that every year, 

 as the glasses are improved, more and more stars 

 appear : we may, therefore, in viewing the series 

 the other way, imagine with some degree of pro- 

 bability, that water may still teem with life even 

 beyond the reach of the highest powers of our 

 glasses, and we may never be able to say with 

 perfect truth of any drop of water, that it is 

 free from animal or vegetable life. The thought 

 is as overpowering in the one case as in the other, 

 and we should be thankful that, by the aid of 



