14 INTRODUCTION 



profitable for young people. Unawares, and without 

 irksome toil, they are sure to add to their store of 

 information, to say nothing of the mischief avoided 

 through being intelligently occupied. No study is 

 easier than that of Nature, and it is so varied that all 

 tastes may find congenial employment when engaged 

 in trying to unfold her mysteries. It is attested by 

 those competent to judge, that works of Nature are 

 more beautiful, more accurate, and more astounding 

 than any work that man can produce. It would 

 appear also that the hidden beauties of Nature are 

 intended for our study, edification, and pleasure. To 

 become acquainted with them ought also to become 

 a duty. 



The tendency with a great number of people is to 

 disregard Nature's wonders, and to select for their 

 reading the light literature of the day, often very 

 trashy and pernicious novels, instead. The gift of 

 eyesight and the power to use the mind were 

 intended for better studies. 



Thousands of people pass through the span of life 

 without ever having had the pleasure of seeing for 

 themselves the surrounding loveliness of created 

 things. How true, even in this respect, is the ancient 

 saying, ' Eyes have they, but they see not ' ! The 

 philosopher's words are as true to-day as when they 



