II. TIJE ROOT. 35 



of the air, and lay it up in a storehouse as bees make 

 combs. Of these stores for the most part rounded 

 masses tapering downwards into the ground some are 

 as good for human beings as honeycombs are ; only not 

 so sweet. We steal them from the plants, as we do from 

 the bees, and these conical upside-down hives or treasuries 

 of Atreus, under the names of carrots, turnips, and rad- 

 ishes, have had important influence on human fortunes. 

 If we do not steal the store, next year the plant lives 

 upon it, raises its stem, flowers and seeds out of that 

 abundance, and having f ulfllled its destiny, and provided 

 for its successor, passes away, root and branch to- 

 gether. 



13. There is a pretty example of patience for us in 

 this; and it would be well for young people generally 

 to set themselves to grow in a carrotty or turnippy 

 manner, and lay up secret store, not caring to exhibit 

 it until the time comes for fruitful display. But they 

 must not, in after-life, imitate the spendthrift vegetable, 

 and blossom only in the strength of what they learned 

 long ago ; else they soon come to contemptible end. 

 Wise people live like laurels and cedars, and go on 

 mining in the earth, while they adorn and embalm the 

 air. 



14. Secondly, Refuges. As flowers growing on trees 

 have to live for some time, when they are young in their 

 buds, so some flowers growing on the ground have to live 

 for a while, when they are young, in what we call their 



