88 CONVERSATIONS ON 



"Oh, many hundreds of times; for they 

 are very common." 



" True, boys ; and yet you never knew be- 

 fore that they had hooks about them. Sup- 

 pose that everybody had done as you have, 

 just passed by the bats, without taking notice 

 of them ; I could not have told you then 

 what strange creatures they are, for no person 

 would have known any thing about them. 

 You see, then, that men may have eyes, and 

 yet not see things ; because they will not look 

 for them. Use your eyes, boys ; God made 

 them to be used." 



" But, Uncle Philip, bats are such ugly 

 things ! and they can bite, too. We are afraid 

 of them." 



"Ugly, boys! And what of that? Will 

 you look at nothing but what is handsome ? 

 If the bat could think and speak, 1 expect he 

 would call you very ugly. But it is foolish, 

 boys, to be afraid of these smaller animals. 

 There are many creatures which might hurt 

 yon, and I would advise you to keep out of 

 their way : but it is silly to be afraid of every 

 poor little insect or animal which you see. I 

 have seen a large boy cry when he saw a 

 poor little caterpillar or bug near him. Now 



