118 THE MOUNTAIN. 



of islands which we thought so beautiful singly 

 as we passed near them. In almost every new 

 spot, too, I observed something characteristic of 

 the sort of country we were traversing; so that 

 our intervals of rest proved no loss of time. 



One of the first plants which excited my atten- 

 tion, was the Globe-ranunculus or Mountain 

 Globe-flower. It is a very common plant in 

 gardens and shrubberies, and as I had only seen it 

 in such situations, it scarcely seemed at home 

 here ; but nevertheless here undoubtedly was its 

 birthplace, for it grew abundantly in places where 

 the hand of man could not have planted it, and 

 where no one would ever think of scattering seeds 

 either for ornament or profit. It grew in the 

 dripping crevices of rocks ; but seemed to thrive 

 best in situations such as those in which we saw it 

 next day, forming large beds in dark shadowy 

 nooks by the lake-side. 



I have before drawn your attention to the won- 

 derful care exhibited by Providence in rearing an 

 unfailing supply of grass in the lowland meadows 

 and plains. Another, and a still more extraordi- 

 nary instance of Divine Wisdom, in designing and 

 executing, came within our notice to-day. The 

 grasses which are most abundant on exposed heaths 

 are, as I have already hinted, furnished with fine 

 long leaves, and elastic stems, little liable to be 

 torn by the tempestuous winds, to which they are 

 peculiarly liable. Both leaves and roots are, in 

 such situations, densely tufted: consequently the 

 former shelter the ground from the scorching rays 

 of the sun, and prevent it from becoming parched ; 

 while the latter, being thickly matted and distri- 

 buted through a large extent of soil, have ample 



