OF THE YKAK. 9 



over the most elevated spot of its growth; but 

 the stem is strengthened by knots, at intervals, 

 and by a coat of flint, which gives to it that 

 solidity, furnished to the animal structure by 

 means of the bone. Instead of receiving injury 

 from the continual cropping of cattle, its leaves 

 increase the faster for being broken ; while its 

 parts of fructification, which are to serve for its 

 increase by seed, are carefully protected in a 

 chaffy case, so minutely and beautifully perfect, 

 that its fitness can only be seen by means of a 

 microscope. 



Advancing another step in the consideration 

 of nature, we remark how constant the Almighty 

 is to his original plan, in every subsequent 

 growth of even the simplest flower. How, 

 through all ages, the myrtle has its dark-pointed 

 evergreen leaf, and its sweet odour ; and the 

 wood-sorrel, its triple quickly-withering leaf of 

 palest green, and acid flavour. How the almond- 

 tree, which first put forth its bloom to the in- 

 habitants of Palestine, and covered over the 

 branches with its gradually whitening blossoms, 

 so as to serve as a figure for the silver hairs of 

 the aged man, still blooms aiul grows white, 

 as it grows older, just as it did in the days of 

 Solomon. How, in closely looking at the small 

 cup, or calyx, of a flower — a cup so small that 

 even a drop of dew might fill it — we find that 

 the thread-like ril>s with which it is marked, 

 are, in the cahTc of one family of plants, ten m 

 number; and in another, only five; and this in 

 all the individual blooms which have come and 



4 S 



