NATURAL HISTORY. 105 



to anybody or any thing. So come on ; we 

 will go out upon the green common yonder, 

 behind the church, and I think we shall have a 

 grand kite-flying, for the wind is about right. 



" There, boys ! up she goes ! Let out the 

 string. I think she behaves very well ; there, 

 she is done pitching about : now she is steady ; 

 see how she mounts. Ah, that is a very 

 good kite." 



" Uncle Philip, I was reading a book yes- 

 terday which said, ' A philosopher once found 

 great help from a kite.' What did it mean T 



" Do you know what a philosopher is ?" 



" Yes, Uncle Philip ; a philosopher is the 

 same thing with a very wise man, is it not?" 



" That is pretty near the meaning. Phi- 

 losopher means a person who loves wisdom ; 

 and such a person, you know, will always be 

 trying to get knowledge ; and a person who 

 is always trying to get knowledge is apt to 

 be a wise and learned man." 



" Well, how could a kite help a man to get 

 learning ? Did he read the old newspapers it 

 was made of? I cannot see any other way." 



" But there may be another way without 

 your seeing it, you know. The philosopher 



