THE UNIVERSAL STRIFE 19 



growths, and weeks or months may elapse before 

 the long inquisitive rootlets discover it. Cattle 

 and other herbivorous mammals partake of prof- 

 fered greenstuff much quicker ; but even these are 

 slow as compared with the lightning-like move- 

 ment of some hungry predacious beast when the 

 immediate chance of catching prey is perceived. 

 The plant, therefore, only reveals its inclinations 

 comparatively slowly ; yet these may not the less 

 be imaginable, even by man. Is the blossom all a 

 challenge to rivals, or entirely an allurement for 

 insects? Does it tell of yet another emotion? 

 When its face is raised toward the supreme source 

 of all its effort to be beautiful, and, while absorb- 

 ing the golden rays, it opens its heart to sight, 

 more and more, until the very core is revealed, 

 does it not remind us of the growth of love for 

 what has seemed glorious and inspiring, in the 

 human heart ? And again, when the sun has 

 poured its rays into that hungry heart of the 

 flower, until it was content, and the merchant bees 

 have made their subtle exchanges of yellow dust ; 

 when the blossom sheds its finery, and throws the 

 arms of the involucre around the core, to guard it 



