OF SEA-ANEMONES. 41 



There is no state of mind with which it cannot sym- 

 pathise — no trouble or anxiety which it will not 

 comfort and allay. So eternally calm — so gloriously 

 fresli and vigorous — so pure, and free, and infinite ! 

 And these silver-gray, sun-lit rocks, and this heaving, 

 glistening forest of sea-weed, and this shining tract 

 of white sand and many-tinted shells — how full of 

 perfect beauty, how full of endless life ! 



Sad heart, wearied with the petty jealousies, and 

 envyings, and bickerings of thy fellows — maddened 

 by the narrow-minded strife of empty, meaningless 

 words — sated with the daily slaughter of truth under 

 the shallow pretence of zeal for art, and morality, 

 and religion — leave for awhile the reckless whirl and 

 the bloody arena of the world of men, and come and 

 learn a purer philosophy from the mute eloquence of 

 God's lower creation ; learn a calm simple trust in 

 to-morrow's sun and to-morrow's sustenance — a 

 quiet fulfilment of the daily routine of daily work — 

 an unvarying love for a life of faith, and gladness, 

 and adoration. 



E 3 



