THE AREANGEMENTS OF PROVIDENCE. 151 



have not been broken up by the plough. The 

 grass may have been eaten short by sheep and 

 other cattle ; but you will perceive a quantity 

 of what are called bents, which remain un- 

 touched by them. In fact, these bents, or 

 stalks, are extremely bitter. Now, these bents 

 contain the seed of grass, and, when ripe, they 

 fall on the ground, and thus vegetate and renew 

 the turf, and produce food for the cattle. But 

 for this, pastures would not give us that abun- 

 dance of milk and butter we now have, or 

 would the cattle be fattened for food for man. 

 We may see in this fact a remarkable instance, 

 as it has always appeared to me, of a beautiful 

 arrangement in the design of Providence for 

 refreshing the different pastures on which so 

 many cattle find their sustenance. Indeed, the 

 extreme bitterness of these stalks of the grass 

 is so great that neither hares nor rabbits will 

 touch them. 



Amongst other beautiful arrangements of 

 Providence for the welfare of His creatures may 

 be mentioned the mistletoe. This parasitic plant 

 ripens its seeds late in the spring. Now, we 

 know that, in a severe winter, numerous birds 

 feed on hips, haws, and other berries ; but, if a 



