girard] 'TWAS AT CHRISTENING TIME 197 



It is obvious that Viscount Bryce's reference to observation 

 directed to external nature means what here in America we call 

 nature-study. It is also interesting to note that he believes 

 that such observations "should be alert and be exact." It has 

 often been lamented by leading educators that much of our 

 nature-study has failed in these two requirements. It is also 

 interesting to note that Mr. Bryce would have the child learn 

 to use language along with observation, and that observations 

 should be described in exact terms. This is exactly along the 

 line that some of our leading nature-study workers have always 

 advocated as a correlation between nature-study and language 

 work. In short it seems to me that the two paragraphs quoted 

 are very suggestive of how nature-study should be conducted 

 so as to develop the habit of observation, description, and reflec- 

 tion concerning the common things of nature. 



'Twas at Christening Time 

 HorE H. Girard 



LL flowers were in bloom ; wherever they 



could grow, they grew. 



The world-garden was full of sweet 



fragrance and splendor, because it was the 



fulness of Time. The sun shone, and birds 



sang, sang, sang! 



As the wonderful, lone Gardener passed 



in and out among them, to name them, he 

 tenderly touched a petal, a stem, a leaf, even a stalk as they turned 

 their beautiful heads toward the light that he might better see 

 them. 



Some were tall and stately, and held their heads fittingly high; 

 some stooped and blushed almost unseen, but the great Artist 

 found them; some clung or leaned and modestly showed then- 

 colors and delicate lineaments; some in mellow hues or strong 

 tints stayed just mid-way and laughed because they were alive 

 and could help to make the world lovely, and everybody happy; 

 and their Friend smiled with them for joy; still others grew 

 gracefully and luxuriantly on the ground, weaving and inter- 

 weaving a soft carpet for His feet. 



