THE EARLIEST INSIGHTS. 53 



stretches the long, sleepless d^y of question, search, 

 and suffering; at the end the -wisest returns to the 

 goal from which he set out. 



To the little child, Nature is a succession of new 

 and wonderful impressions. Coming he knows not 

 whence, he opens his eyes upon a world which is 

 as new to him as is the virgin continent to the first 

 discoverer. It matters not that countless eyes have 

 already opened and closed on the same magical 

 appearances, that numberless feet have trodden 

 the same paths ; for him the morning star still 

 shines on the first day, and the dew of the primeval 

 night is still on the flowers. Day by day light and 

 shadow fall in unbroken succession on the sensitive 

 surface of his mind, and gradually an elementary 

 order discovers itself in the regularity of these re 

 curring impressions. Form, color, distance, size, 

 relativity of position are felt rather than seen, and 

 the dim and confused mass of sensations discovers 

 something trustworthy and stable behind. Nature 

 is now simple appearance ; thought has not begun 

 to inquire where the lantern is hidden which throws 

 this wonderful picture on the clouds, nor who it is 

 that shifts the scenes. Day and night alternately 

 spread out a changeful successions of wonders 

 simply that the young eyes may look upon them ; 

 and grass is green and sky blue that young feet 

 may find soft resting-places and the young head 

 a beautiful roof over it. Every day is a new 

 discovery, and every night receives into its dreams 



