THE ALERT EYE. 15 



licitatioiis, beckoning us on every hand to become 

 her guests and delve into her secrets. Does not 

 this fact point unmistakably to the place she ought 

 to occupy in our hearts ? It is possible that this 

 mode of reasoning may prove too much for our pur- 

 pose ; but certainly nature's bountifulness is a fact 

 of no small significance. Yet it occurs not infre- 

 quently that those who live nearest to her and 

 have easiest access to her great treasuries of knowl- 

 edge, know and care very little about her, wander- 

 ing through her realm with glazed eyes and un- 

 kindled hearts. More than once have I said to 

 the toil-worn farmer, after rambling over his prem- 

 ises : " Well, sir, I see the tufted titmice have 

 found a pleasant dwelling-place in your woods 

 yonder on the hill-side." 



" What kind of animals are they ? " he would 

 ask. 



'' Oh ! they are birds, sir — those little lead- 

 colored birds that wear a jaunty crest on their 

 eads and a reddish stripe on their sides." 



" I never noticed them ; didn't know there were 

 such birds on these premises." 



Of course, out of regard for his feelings, I have 

 had to repress the exclamation of surprise that ha^ 

 risen to my lips. One does not like to intimate 



