194 ESOTERIC PERIPATETICISM. 



loss, but in every fibre doing, day by day, 

 its appropriate work. Sunshine and rain, 

 heat and cold, calm and storm, all minis- 

 ter to its necessities. It has only to stand 

 in its place and grow; happy in spring- 

 time, with its buds and leaves ; happy in 

 autumn, with its fruit ; happy, too, in win- 

 ter, repining not when forced to wait 

 through months of bareness and dearth for 

 the touch of returning warmth. Enviable 

 tree ! As we contemplate it, we feel our- 

 selves rebuked, and, at the same time, com- 

 forted. We, also, will be still, and let the 

 life that is in us work itself out to the ap- 

 pointed end. 



The seeing eye is a gift so unusual that 

 whoever accustoms himself to watch what 

 passes around him in the natural world is 

 sure to be often entertained by the remarks, 

 complimentary and otherwise, which such 

 an idiosyncrasy calls forth. Some of his 

 neighbors pity him as a ne'er-do-well, while 

 others devoutly attribute to him a sort of 

 superhuman faculty. If only they had such 

 eyes ! But. alas! they go into the woods, 

 and they see nothing. Meanwhile the ob- 

 ject of their envy knows well enough that 



