230 FIRST STEPS IN GENERAL KNOWLEDGE. 



" If we are come to the place we set out from," 

 said Mary, " I really should like to begin again, 

 and go over all the tribes a second time." 



"Try to do so amongst yourselves/' said her 

 father, " and when you are at a loss, apply to me. 

 I am most anxious you should all acquire the love 

 of plants, and the power to recognise them and to 

 tell their history, for I know it will be for your 

 good." 



" It is very pleasant," said Kobert ; " but what 

 particular good will it do us ?" 



" It will add new pleasures to your youth ; it 

 will be a great relief and recreation amidst the 

 cares of middle age ; and it will be a light and 

 pleasant employment for old age, if it should 

 please God to prolong your life." 



" And then it will always make our walks amus- 

 ing," said Mary ; " for we shall never go out with- 

 out finding something to notice, or to carry home 

 for drying ; and when we go to a new place, how 

 pleasant it will be to find plants that we had never 

 seen before ! Do you remember, Henry, how de- 

 delighted we were when we first saw the horned 

 poppy on the shore, near Brighton ?" 



"Yes," said her brother; "but I should have 



