130 NATURE STUDY. 



beauty and function and unity of his physical environ- 

 ment, and his better understanding of his human en- 

 vironment, help him to appreciate better what comes 

 from the Author of all, his spiritual environment ? 



And will the effect stop there ? Can it ? As the 

 child sees the wisdom and power of the Creator shown 

 in his works, as he begins to appreciate the beauty and 

 unity in all nature, as he realizes something of the in- 

 finite care with which leaf and flower and seed are 

 planned and protected, will he not be drawn toward the 

 Protector and Planner? Will he not better appreciate 

 and better perform what he owes to the God and Father 

 of all? 



Others have expressed so effectively this higher value 

 or aesthetic content of nature study that it seems appro- 

 priate in concluding this discussion to quote from two 

 of our poets. 



GRACE AND HER FRIENDS. 



Your walk is lonely, blue-eyed Grace, 

 Down the long forest-road to school, 



Where shadows troop, at dismal pace, 

 From sullen chasm to sunless pool. 



Are you not often, little maid, 



Beneath the sighing trees afraid ? 



" Afraid, beneath the tall, strong trees, 

 That bend their arms to shelter me, 



And whisper down, with dew and breeze, 

 Sweet sounds that float on lovingly, 



Till every gorge and chasm seems 



Thrilled through and through with fairy dreams ? 



