102 MOSSES. 



English Botany/"* It is supposed that he referred to one 

 of those plants when he relates that, in a moment of 

 despair, having abandoned himself to death, and believing 

 that the care of God's providence was no longer extended 

 < )ver him, the extraordinary beauty of a very small moss 

 ('aught his eye. He looked at its exquisite workmanship, 

 wondered at its adaptation to the barren home where it 

 was placed, and a train of softening thought swept over him, 

 analogous to the reasoning of the All-wise teacher : " If 

 God so clothe the grass of the field, how much more will 

 he clothe you, ye of little faith V The voice of God 

 reached the traveller's heart by means of this diminutive 

 plant, and he arose armed with fresh courage, and went 

 on his way relying on his Lord. 



* The specimens of Mungo Park are a variety of Fissidens bryoides 

 of Wilson (Dicranum bryoides of older botanists). 



