in. THE HOSPITALITIES OF NA TURE. 5 r 



cheek as it creeps up to its venerable bole; and all the 

 seasons may bring their varied gifts to bloom and fade 

 within its circle without let or hindrance. Royal as it 

 is, there is no solitude or exclusiveness of royalty about 

 it. Rather does its dignity consist in its hospitality; 

 and its nobility is indicated by its freeness of access 

 and kindly and generous welcome to all that may hold 

 within it the sacred principle of life. The gates of its 

 hospitality, like the Bokharian nobleman's, are " nailed 

 open." Sturdy and independent as it is, there is thus 

 no object that is more closely linked with the general 

 life of nature, that blends more harmoniously with the 

 operations which different creatures carry on for their 

 own advantage, and makes of them one genial system of 

 mutual benefit. 



Nature, in all her departments, is a system of mutual 

 accommodation. Every object affords hospitality to 

 every other object. I except, indeed, the whole class of 

 parasites, whose existence is not only peculiarly objection- 

 able, but exceedingly mysterious, and which seem to 

 militate so much against the argument of design and the 

 goodness of creation. For it cannot be said that they 

 are hospitably received and entertained by their hosts. 

 The connection between them is a compulsory one, 

 and is inevitably disastrous to the entertainer. These 

 parasites take all and give nothing in return; they 

 benefit no single created thing. And their existence 

 seems to have no other purpose than to point out the 

 moral, how loathsome and terribly degraded living 

 creatures become that have ceased to support them- 



