THE AIM OF NATURE STUDY. 113 



science classes of higher institutions, mere cold-blooded 

 anatomists and collectors. 



No ; interest, power, knowledge, are not the highest 

 aims in nature study. Preceding these, along with 

 these, more important than these, must come the culti- 

 vation of the sympathies of the child. " Love is the 

 fulfilling of the law " educationally as well as spiritu- 

 ally. 



We shall find that we shall develop in the hearts of 

 the children a sympathy with the world of nature in pro- 

 portion as we lead them to care for or work for nature. 

 We are apt to love best that for which we do the most, 

 not merely, as is often assumed, that from which we 

 receive the most. So keeping in view the cultivation 

 of a sympathy and love of nature, we will give our 

 children and pupils plants and animals to care for. A 

 few seeds planted, watered, and watched over by the 

 little folks, buds gathered and supplied with fresh water, 

 a pet bird or kitten cared for by them, will be most help- 

 ful in developing a sympathy with the world of life. 



Equally essential for the cultivation of sympathy with 

 and love for nature is an understanding of what we re- 

 ceive from nature, an appreciation of what nature gives 

 to and does for us. 



Most closely related to the cultivation of sympathy 

 with nature is the development of the aesthetic sense in 

 our pupils, the appreciation of the beauty of their envi- 

 ronment. 



By beauty we mean, as shown in Chapter I, not 



