148 The Naturalist of C^unbrae. 



in the wilderness exhausted and ready to die, but 

 upon seeing this little plant he said to himself, ' If 

 God cares for this little moss in the desert, He will 

 not be forgetful of me.' Cheered with the thought, he 

 gathered renewed courage and resumed his journey, 

 and soon found the huts of some friendly Indians. 

 Of the balance of my own cares and pleasures I have 

 no reason to complain. We are all in good health, 

 for although my head troubles me a little, it is com- 

 paratively well to what it was two years ago. I am 

 sometimes dreaming of a retreat from business, but 

 can never find resolution to force my way out." 



Even in January, 1852, when writing to his friend 

 Mr. Cook on the drawbacks and advantages which 

 change, variously and at different times or even at 

 one and the same time, presents to the human mind, 

 after remarking that a thousand little ties and fancies 

 tend to accumulate obstacles against change, he thus 

 pursued the theme : 



" In this way delays are continued often long after 

 resolves have been made, and often till some causality 

 or other terminates the dilemna. Then change we 

 must ; and if for the worse we blame the fates, and if 

 for the better we laud ourselves. 



" But still I long to change from the noise 

 Of the bustling town and its boasted joys, 

 Away from beneath the shifting smoke 

 That impedes all life's currents that are under her cloak ; 



" Away where the air is sporting free, 

 Refreshing itself on the daisy lea ; 

 Where the hum of the bees is heard so sweet, 

 Instead of the clanking noise of the street ; 



