

C0 itatiamt pitl^cld. 



j / dedicate to thee ivhat is really thine oiun : three books ^^ 



of the fireside, sprung from our siveet evening talk, — 



THE BIRD— THE INSECT — THE SEA. 



Thou alone didst inspire them. WitJiout thee I 

 should have pursued, ever in my oiun track, the rude path 

 of human history. 



Thou alone didst prepare them. I received from 

 thy hands the rich harvest of Nature. 



And thou alone didst crown them, placing on the 

 accomplished tvork the sacred flower which blesses them. 



J. MICHELET. 



