174 THE MICROSCOPE AND ITS LESSONS. 



I had a special regard for that little adventurer, which 

 had found a solitary home on the stone belonging to the 

 strata which forms, as we presume, the framework of our 

 world. But how could it have found a dwelling-place 

 in such an unlikely place as granite ? 



Let me tell you. 



The masses of primary rock placed on the top of 

 these steps down to the stream were put as near to 

 each other as the mason could get them, but, neverthe- 

 less, there was just one little interstice where they met. 

 In that gap there chanced to be room enough for dirt 

 and soot and dust to collect, and one day some passer-by, 

 eating cherries, thoughtlessly threw one of the stones on 

 to the top of these granite masses, and it happened to 

 lodge in one of these insignificant openings. Soon after, 

 down came the rain, moistening the little accumulation 

 of dirt and soot, and the germ of the plant, directly 

 finding one of the necessary elements for its release at 

 hand, began to swell out in its increasing moisture till 

 the walls of its prison gave way, when there appeared 

 two little roots, which directly struck for the dirt and 

 dust below, anchoring the embryo to the accumulation, 

 small though it was. Soon after, up sprang two tiny 

 leaves, and, working steadily day by day, at last a very 

 little branch was formed, and at length the young tree, 

 which attracted both my attention and admiration, 

 appeared. One day, on going to hear what my pet 

 cherry tree had to say to me for you must know I do 

 love to listen to the sweet voice of what we call " nature ; " 

 for to me " the voice," not " of the people," but the voice 

 of " nature " is " the voice of God ; " for does not His 

 own Word say, " Speak to the earth, and it shall teach 

 thee " ? * and has not that Word been my precious guide- 



* Job xii. 8. 



