CONNEXION OF PLANTS WITH ANIMALS. 89 
dained the animal functions so as to throw out 
this poison, also ordained the vegetable powers 
to drink it in,—and more, even to live upon it. 
Plants inhale the gas as fast as it is produced 
from the opposite sources: out of it they form 
their solid wood, turning the poison we might 
almost say into gold, certainly into a material 
of all others most necessary and valuable to 
mankind. 
Thus a beautiful connexion is established be- 
tween plants, animals, and men. The vegetable 
kingdom can no more dispense with this gas in 
the air, than the animal with the oxygen gas, 
which air also contains; nor can either say to 
the other, “‘We have no need of you.” The 
fact is, vegetables live upon what animals would 
die from, and thus consuming the deleterious 
ingredient, not only secure their own health, 
but also that of the animate creation at the 
same time. It seems that the great Creator of 
all things never intended any part of His creation 
to stand alone. Man himself is quite dependent 
upon the beast of the field, and the tree of the 
forest; and all through creation we may see the 
same law prevail. Thus, little as the thought 
