Some of llrs. Hussey's friends hint that she either invents the tilings she represents, which would be 

 supposing a talent far beyond painting correctly real objects, or that she must practise some ingenious witch- 

 craft to obtain her ilycological treasures ; that fairy-rings appear in the magic circles of her incantations, and 

 toadstools spring wherever her foot touches the ground. The questionable virtue of such endowments 

 must be disclaimed, or who would tolerate her rambles tlirough their domains ? Alas ! as it is, the spirit 

 of Liebig is abroad, and many a favourite haunt has been pared and burned, while the once most prolific 

 of all lies doing penance in a white sheet — of chalk. 



It is an evidence how necessary it is to awaken attention to objects, that many an eye which is caught 

 by AJlower does not see ^fungus. Where do you find all these things ? a question constantly asked, is 

 easily answered — Everywhere. If made subjects of study or attention, you too, my worthy friend, will find 

 many things you never saw before; and when the true character of otliers, desjmed if seen heretofore, is 

 pointed out, surprise and delight, and veneration for the creative energy which clothes everything with a 

 beauty befitting to itself, wiU take the place of neglect or complaint. Mouldiness, and mildews, and 

 bUghts, when viewed by that invaluable aid to finite eyes, the microscope, become forests of crystal stems 

 and branches, tasselled with pearls {Penicillium crustatum), or slender pillars like tlu-eads of spun glass, 

 surmounted by lamp-like globes containing dark spores [Mucor mucedo), or bright yellow eggs lyiijg in 

 nests of brown moss [Eurotiutn herharioruni) . iUaddin's garden appears where before was only blue and 

 yellow mouldiness ; if the preserves are spoiled we have only ourselves to blame, not the exquisite parasites 

 that are feeding and flourisliing upon them. When we find this, that nothing can be lovelier tlian some 

 of these pests repudiated by every housekeeper, we cannot suppose that they were intended merely as 

 domestic scourges for the uncleanly, or retributions for the stingy, punishments for neglected corners or 

 stale bread and ill-made jam ! So much beauty needed not to have been wasted, merely for tliis end ; 

 surely it points out that man is bound to improve his natural faculties, to enable himself to appreciate the 

 glory and the loveliness of those things which are around him, in which the unassisted eye and untutored 

 judgment find only subject for disgust. 



