6 THE FERN PARADISE. 



surrounded by the wealth of glorious trees, soothed 

 by the soft sounds of insect life, and charmed by 

 the songs of birds. Given the sweet gifts of plants 

 and shrubs, of grass and flowers, clothed each and 

 all with rich and beautiful tints : gifts which the 

 all-wise Creator has spread out upon the earth 

 with a splendid liberality, offering them alike to 

 rich and to poor. Given, we say, all these choice 

 things, together with a healthy mind in a healthy 

 body, and he who has them possesses the elements 

 of physical enjoyment. 



But all cannot share such enjoyment. To some, 

 Nature is like a sealed book ; and these cannot sip 

 from the cup which, overflowing with pleasure, she 

 holds up as a free gift to mankind. Pent up, 

 perhaps, in the heart of a great city, walled in from 

 all that is beautiful in Nature, their eyes are never 

 gladdened by the sight of woods, green fields, and 

 sweet wild-flowers ; their ears are never charmed 

 by the songs of birds that roam free and untamed 

 among their native covers. To them the fresh 

 breeze laden with soft perfumes never comes. 

 Hard toil in city workshops, squalid homes in city 



