NATURE AND HER HARMONIES. 15 



hand, to go to the Sunday school, (for all days are 



to him) where this little Parson teaches : it is possible such 



may learn of more things there than they have dreamed of 



yet. 



In addition to the healthful tonic of his laughing ethics, 

 through which their lank sides may grow to shake with fat, 

 perhaps the Parson, in exhibiting the process by which that 

 woven domicil of his is constructed, may enlighten them as 

 to the absurdity of certain dogmatisms concerning instinct. 



Beside the consummate and delicate skill with which he 

 plies the long, fibrous thread, with small feet and needle-like 

 bill, weaving, plaiting, sewing there is something in that 

 facility of adaptation, which, in Louisiana, exhibits the nest 

 " coarsely woven," that the air may pass through, and in the 

 middle States " lined with soft and warm materials," that so 

 curiously resembles " reasoning ;" that is amazingly like an 

 independent volition, guided by the familiar and simple pro- 

 cess of " Induction 1" Who knows ? " A little bird told me 

 sot" 



The Parson is indignantly eloquent upon these points 

 sometimes. He says that he displays quite as much judg- 

 ment and more foresight, in selecting the locality and ma- 

 terial of his house, than we " animals on two legs, without 

 feathers" ever do; that he is bred to be a better artist than 

 one in a thousand of us ; that Orioles are no more compel- 

 led, by a resistless impulse, to build their houses in a partic- 

 ular way, without understanding the reason why, than the 

 Hindoos are, to build Pagodas ; that he does understand the 

 reason perfectly, and it is the plainest imaginable one. 



This particular form is chosen, because it suits his habits, 

 tastes, and mode of life best, and that, the Chinaman, who 

 has built his house in the same way (so far as we know) for 

 three thousand years, can give no better reason. 



That though a particular outline suits him best, and suited 

 his forefathers the best, yet they have been in the habit of 

 altering the construction and material ; and he knows why, 



