THE EGG. 65 



Let US take the egg in our hands. This elliptical form, at once 

 the most easy of comprehension, the most beautiful, and presenting 

 the fewest salient points to external attack, gives one the idea of 

 a complete miniature world, of a perfect harmony, from which 

 nothing can be taken away, and to which nothing can be added. 

 No inorganic matter adopts this perfect form. I conceive that, 

 under its apparent inertness, it holds a high mystery of life and 

 some accomplished work of God. 



What is it, and what should issue from it ? I know not. But 

 she knows well — yonder trembling creature who, with outstretched 

 wings, embraces it and matures it with her warmth ; she who, 

 until now the free queen of the air, lived at her own wild will, 

 but, suddenly fettered, sits motionless on that mute object which 

 one would call a stone, and which as yet gives no revelation. 



Do not speak of blind instinct. Facts demonstrate how that 

 clear-sighted instinct modifies itself according to surrounding con- 

 ditions ; in other words, how that rudimentary reason differs in its 

 nature from the lofty human reason. 



Yes ; that mother knows and sees distiuctly by means of the pen^ 



6 



