92 THE LIME. 



of course, the goodness of Him who takes care even 

 of the sparrows j but it is in the lime that, as a large 

 tree, we are made most powerfully sensible of the 

 precaution for their safety. I do not know anything 

 in nature that can give more delight to a kindly and 

 loving heart than the contemplation of its safeguards. 

 Food, drink, warmth, sunshine, fresh air, seem to 

 come almost as a matter of course. Except under 

 occasional and exceptional conditions and circum- 

 stances, of these things there is always plenty; but 

 asylums, places of security and retreat, have to be 

 specially considered and prepared. Rarely, however, 

 do we see the preparation set forth conspicuously. 

 As a rule, that beautiful primitive law of the world 

 and all its contents, that nothing shall exist for 

 itself alone, but always for the sake, at the same 

 time, of some other thing, which shall be the happier 

 and the richer for it as a rule, I say, that beautiful 

 law is here again exemplified and declared. Even 

 the weed and unconsidered wild-flower, things that 

 seem useless, become houses of refuge. See how the 

 little fishes hide their silver coats among the water- 

 flags ! See how the lizards of the seaside sandhills, 

 emerald-green and tawny-grey, agile as thought, 

 quick-eyed and docile as love, dart to the speary 

 grass that grows like a mimic wheat-field in those 

 trackless deserts ! " Deserts " did we say ? When 

 a thousand forms of life, brilliant beetles, cased in 

 armour of bronze and crimson ; fairy -like butterflies, 



