THE GOSPEL OF NATURE 



a broken pane, and it is none the wiser; it returns 

 to the assault as vigorously as ever. 



The fossils in the rocks did not mean much to the 

 earlier geologists. They looked upon them as freaks 

 of Nature, whims of the creative energy, or vestiges 

 of Noah s flood. You see they were blinded by the 

 preconceived notions of the six-day theory of crea 

 tion, 



in 



. I do not know that the bird has taught me any 

 valuable lesson. Indeed, I do not go to Nature to 

 be taught. I go for enjoyment and companionship. 

 I go to bathe in her as in a sea; I go to give my eyes 

 and ears and all my senses a free, clean field and to 

 tone up my spirits by her &quot;primal sanities.&quot; If the 

 bird has not preached to me, it has added to the re 

 sources of my life, it has widened the field of my 

 interests, it has afforded me another beautiful ob 

 ject to love, and has helped make me feel more at 

 home in this world. To take the birds out of my life 

 would be like lopping off so many branches from the 

 tree: there is so much less surface of leafage to absorb 

 the sunlight and bring my spirits in contact with the 

 vital currents. We cannot pursue any natural study 

 with love and enthusiasm without the object of it 

 becoming a part of our lives. The birds, the flowers, 

 the trees, the rocks, all become linked with our lives 

 and hold the key to our thoughts and emotions. 

 Not till the bird becomes a part of your life can 

 253 



