ON THE MANUSCRIPTS OF GOD 



The countless varieties of spear- and lance- 

 shaped leaves, varying in size from a pine- 

 needle to one which could do deadly execu- 

 tion were it made of steel, would also call 

 for a large number of rows on our hypo- 

 thetical walls. 



Very superb too would be the exhibit 

 which could be given of compound leaves, 

 from the dainty wood sorrel to the large and 

 elaborate horse-chestnut. Skeleton leaves, 

 striped, mottled, red, yellow, old-rose, and 

 wine-colored leaves; leaves scented, shirred, 

 and specialized, like those of a great variety 

 of pitcher-plants, would each add their long 

 list of wonders to the collection. Other 

 columns would hold the thick, fleshy leaves, 

 of thirsty lands, that would drink them dry 

 but for the small number of their pores and 

 their firm, resisting texture. Thousands of 

 other leaves too might be found to grade 

 down from the thick leaf to those as thin 

 as the gauzy wings of a dragon-fly. 



Not only the innumerable variations of 

 contour, edge, and thickness would call for 

 row upon row of illustrations, but the sur- 



152 



