NATURE STUDY, TEACHER, AND CHILD 39 



in infancy, or, at latest, before reaching the teens. I have, how- 

 ever, had some rather remarkable experiences among grown-up 

 converts, and feel sure that perseverance will accomplish a great 

 deal, when it is realised that, both personally and collectively, 

 this Nature seeking is worth following up, especially in an age 

 when the stimulating influence of the country has such a marked 

 effect for good upon those who keenly feel the necessity for 

 solace, change of scene and occupation, and who possess a genuine 

 desire to know something of the world of life by which they are 

 surrounded. 



One's own experience from childhood upwards presents at all 

 times, and in all walks of life, an interesting retrospect, and this 

 is particularly true with regard to Nature Study. A whole 

 sermon might well be preached to a countless congregation on 

 the subject of Initiation. I am led to write thus because of a 

 remarkable set of lines that appeared under this title in a weekly 

 contemporary. I cannot quote them in extenso, but may give 

 the opening and closing lines, thus : 



"I remember now (Dear God, with tears of joy !) 

 When I was but a little curious boy, 

 I wandered in the sparkle of the Spring ; 

 Oh ! I remember raindrops glittering 

 Close to the earth in primrose goblets new, 

 And tiny ants that crept, and birds that flew 

 Swift past my ears. ..." 



This stimulating poet (I know not the author) goes on to write 

 of the awe experienced by the little boy in the mighty fastness, 

 in the great arena of Nature ; of meeting " Fear," and then, 

 sighting a Squirrel leaping high in the pine-tree tops, terror left 

 that little boy, for the gay wood-sprite, " that nut-brown elf," 

 had won his tiny heart. Afterwards, dread of the great secret 

 came unto him. He fought it for a time, but it was all in vain. 

 " Don't Care " ventured across his path, until the voice of a 

 lonely Cuckoo was heard filtering through the dell, and there- 

 upon the mystery again appalled him. He could not read these 

 wondrous signs of Nature, these footprints of creation, and tore 

 in terror from the woods, though, as he says, so close to Heaven's 

 shore ! And then this Nature interpreter concludes : 



" But afterwards, and sometimes now, I please 

 To wander with the winds among those trees ; 

 No awe enthralls me now, although alone 

 I am in heaven ; nay, almost at God's throne ! " 



