CONCLUSION. 149 



or plant. Let us all be always living- for the truth, and 

 striving' to read in every leaf of Nature's book her lesson 

 of faith, her lesson of hope, her lesson of love. 



Admirably has one of our Iowa chapters united 

 science and humanity. Organized as a society of scien- 

 tific workers, it has made itself also a band of mercy. 

 It has proved that, although the eye of Science is keen, 

 her heart need not be cold, and that her hand, how- 

 ever cunning-, may yet be kind. Two kindred spirits 

 were Agassiz and Aubudon; and very many who with 

 us, have enrolled themselves under the name 'Agassiz,' 

 have also joined the Aubudon Society, while many others 

 are learning* regarding- birds not only, but every living* 

 thing- never needlessly to hurt or to destroy. 



What, after all, is our purpose in studying- Nature? 

 Is it to g-et for ourselves collections of rare and beauti- 

 ful objects? Is it to amuse us during- our leisure hours? 

 Is it to train our powers of observation and strengthen 

 our minds by careful discipline? Is it to satisfy our 

 natural thirst for knowledge, and to become familiar 

 with all the little strangers of the roadside and the 

 wood ? It is all this, but it should be much more. We 

 ought to be learning the grand and solemn lesson that 

 a Divine mind is showing its wisdom in every leaf and 

 pebble, and that a Divine heart is expressing its love in 

 every raindrop and in every flower- This was the truth 

 that ffllecl the heart of him for whom our Association 

 is named this was the secret of his untiring zeal, and 

 the key to his deep love of Nature. It has grown to be a 

 pleasant custom for our chapters to celebrate Professor 

 Ag-assiz's birthday (May 28), by means of an excursion 

 or picnic, combined with appropriate literary exercises; 

 and perhaps on such an occasion nothing will more truly 

 bring' home to us the sweet spirit of the great naturalist 



