THE RANUNCULUS. 217 



fragrant Ranunculus, I came in contact with a 

 flourishing cluster of nettles. The result was, of 

 course, very distressing : my hand swelled, and 

 became extremely painful, and, in the irritation of 

 the moment, my childish resenxment prompted me 

 to lay hold on the unprovoked aggressors, to tear 

 them up, and fling them beyond the garden pales. 

 This desire gave way, however, to a more pruden- 

 tial feeling, knowing that there was no defence for 

 an unarmed hand, against their thousand invisible 

 stings. I therefore contented myself with deter- 

 mining to point them out to the gardener, and 

 walked away, in quest of some cooling dock-leaves 

 io soften the smart. 



Returning shortly after, I beheld a bee most 

 busily plying her trade among the blossoms of 

 similar weeds ; and perceiving that thev evidently 

 contained no small store of honey, I cautiously 

 drew a flower from its cup, put it to my lips, and 

 was delighted with the sweetness that rewarded 

 my enterprize. I made a feast, when I had been 

 severely wounded; and retired, congratulating my- 

 self on the exercise of that forbearance, which had 

 issued in far more pleasing results than would have 

 followed a hostile attack on the unequal foe. 



Now, I am not going to indentify the nettles as 

 individuals ; but, as a class, how aptly do they 

 typify too many who are scattered throughout the 

 professing Church of Christ ! Mingled among the 



19 



