NATURE STUDY, TEACHER, AND CHILD 35 



Nature makes us use all these in a more quickened way. Ob- 

 servation, and a sense of the wonderful in Nature, make us quick 

 witted, keen to perceive, receptive, and retentive. Nature helps 

 to lead the mind, upon which the glory of the sunrise of the soul 

 has not yet risen, up to Nature's God. There is no need to be 

 great explorers, to have a splendidly-equipped laboratory, nor 

 costly instruments. Nature Study is one of the cheapest hobbies 

 in existence, though it cannot be purchased in penny packets. 



I am a great believer in common things, and the common 

 people. This reminds me of an anecdote related in a recent 

 book concerning President Lincoln. A diary note in his book 

 reads as follows : " The President to-night (Dec. 23rd, 1863) 

 had a dream ; he was in a party of plain people, and as it became 

 known who he was, they began to comment on his appearance. 

 One of them said : ' He is a very common-looking man.' The 

 President replied : ' The Lord prefers common-looking people. 

 That is the reason he makes so many of them.' " Lincoln un- 

 doubtedly struck the right note. This living lore of Nature 

 appeals to the soldier upon the battlefield, for the rich dulcet 

 notes of the soul-inspired Nightingale help him to forget the 

 thunder of the guns, and it fortifies the intrepid explorer during 

 his Arctic solitude. I read in my paper that an article, " Leaning 

 on a Gate," brought a letter to the writer from the trenches 

 thus : " Continue to breathe out these pantheistic prayers for 

 us. ... It is because this war has taken place in the open air 

 that I still live. Could it conceivably be carried on indoors I 

 should perish utterly. Sunrising sunsetting song of birds 

 wind in the trees on these I thrive. . . ." There you have it. 



My mind wanders to the Arctic wonderland. I think of brave 

 Captain Scott and his comrades of imperishable memory. When 

 writing his last memorable words to his wife Scott said : " Make 

 the boy interested in Natural History if you can ; it is better 

 than games; they encourage it at some schools. I know you 

 will keep him in the open air." I venture to submit that no 

 greater testimony was ever borne to the value of Nature Study 

 than these never-to-be-forgotten words, penned by Scott just 

 before he passed over the horizon to the Great Unknown. Let 

 us hope that very soon now men, women, and children will 

 remember that intellectual pursuits do count in this life, and that 

 too much frivolity is no tonic for the soul. The eternal work 

 of God is in every form of creation. In Nature you meet the 

 Creator face to face, yet, how few, alas, come to make His 



