THE FOREST. 37 



parent is perpetuated in the child, so that it is 

 easily conceivable that the son may overcome his 

 own father by means of higher powers gained in 

 the lifetime of that individual, but which were less 

 pronounced in the former generation. When we 

 look upon every individual man, beast, or plant, as 

 nothing less than the same being who lived tens of 

 thousands (perhaps millions) of years ago, and has 

 continued to live up to the present moment, what 

 wide views of life we acquire. We are our parents, 

 grandparents, and ancestors of all past ages, up to 

 that simple cell which first showed a germ of life. 

 These were not only our relations, but our very 

 selves, and as long as the chain continues we have 

 endless life. 



We cannot affirm that the Hebrews held this 

 theory of continuity, but many indications of 

 something like it are nevertheless found in their 

 history. Nature abhors a creature without off- 

 spring, and from her standpoint the man who 

 does not procreate children is at least unnatural, if 

 nothing worse. Every tree of the forest, from 

 youth to old age, is doing its best to ensure that 

 his line shall not come to an end with him. In 

 youth he does everything possible to become 

 strong enough to fight for a place among others 

 For what purpose ? That he may get sunlight to 



