234 SAGACITY AND MORALITY OF PLANTS. 



and, meantime, tries to stand upright on stems quite 

 unable to support it, and tumbles helplessly into the 

 neighbouring copsewood, taking every one's arm 

 without asking leave. A few ages hence its ablest 

 descendants will probably have made their choice, 

 if they have constitution enough to survive in the 

 battle of life — which, from the commonness of the 

 plant, they seem likely to have. And what their 

 choice will be there is little doubt. There are trees 

 here of a truly noble nature, whose ancestors have 

 conquered ages since ; it may be by selfish and 

 questionable means. But their descendants, secure 

 in their own power, can afford to be generous, and 

 allow a whole world of lesser plants to nestle in their 

 branches, another world to fatten round their feet 

 There are humble and modest plants, too, here — and 

 those some of the loveliest — which have long since 

 cast away all ambition, and are content to crouch or 

 perch anywhere, if only they may be allowed a 

 chance ray of light and a chance drop of water 

 wherewith to perfect their flowers and seed. But, 

 throughout the great republic of the forest, the 

 motto of the majority is — as it is, and always has 

 been, with human beings — 'Every one for himself, 

 and the devil take the hindmost!' Selfish com- 

 petition, over -reaching tyranny, the temper which 

 fawns and clings as long as it is down, and when it 

 has risen, kicks over the stool by which it has 

 climbed — these, and the other ' works of the flesh,' 



