276 THE MICROSCOPE AND ITS LESSONS. 



thread; it is sometimes called " Hell-weed ; " it grows 

 almost destitute of leaves, and bears usually a small 

 yellow flower. It creeps along the ground in a most 

 insinuating and stealthy manner, and casts about, with its 

 long twine-like arms, for something to lay hold of and 

 cling to. As soon as it comes in contact with the living 

 stem of some other plant, it throws out a sucker, by which 

 it attaches itself, and commences to absorb the sap of its 

 foster-parent ; it then ceases to have any connection with 

 the ground, it dies at its own roots, and it lives upon and 

 at the expense of the plant about which it has encircled 

 itself. As it grows it throws out fresh suckers, establish- 

 ing itself firmly on its victim. After making a few turns 

 round one stem, the dodder finds its way to another, and 

 thus it continues turning and branching till it resembles 

 "fine, closely tangled, wet catgut,"" and even then, as 

 though not satisfied with this pitiable exhibition of mean- 

 ness, it eventually chokes, strangles, and kills the plant 

 upon which it has lived. 



Why have I told you this story, which a worthy 

 minister * sent me while writing these pages ? It is to 

 show you, by an illustration, how the reception of doubt, 

 when it is entertained in the mind and not rejected, leads 

 ;too often to the ruin of the soul. This story was written 

 for and spoken to children at a May morning flower 

 service. May I tell you another, the combination of the 

 two exactly conveying the lessons which I have considered 

 'it a duty to convey while looking into the wonders of the 

 beautiful world on which we live? 



Some years ago there was a German prince who lived 



in an old castle on the banks of the Khine ; he was a 



good Christian man, and had an only son, who was a very 



good young man, and not only a comfort to his father, 



* Rev. Morley Wright. 



