NATURAL HISTORY. 29 



to work with. But with the instruments 

 which God has given to them, they will cut 

 what is cloth to them, the leaves of trees and 

 flowers, and will sew them together too : and, 

 now I think of it, there is one that will cut 

 his garments out of our cloth." 



"Pray let us hear about them, Uncle 

 Philip." 



" Softly, boys, softly. I have two things to 

 say to you before I begin. In the first place, I 

 am very glad to hear that you think and talk 

 among yourselves about the things which I 

 tell you : and in the next place, I know that 

 you love me, and. therefore would not wish, 

 by puzzling me, as you call it, to produce 

 mortification or vexation ; nor do I think that 

 I should have felt either vexed or mortified 

 had I not been able to find tailors among the 

 lower animals ; but I do not wish you to take 

 pleasure in puzzling people ; for 'it is very apt 

 to produce in you a feeling of triumph, and to 

 make you vain : and you must remember' 

 that for one of your questions which cannot 

 be answered, a thousand might be put to you, 

 of the answer to which you would be igno- 

 rant. No man, my dear boys, knows every 



thing. Wise men talk with each other, that 



c2 



