OF NATURE. 35 



with disease, if we would " touch the earth," 

 hold converse with nature for a little, in the way 

 of knowledge, we would find relief in all cases, 

 and renovation in many. 



If we examine the matter aright and carefully, 

 we shall find that at all ages, and under every cir- 

 cumstance of life, it is really nature which sweetens 

 our cup, and that, skilfully used, there is no gall 

 in life so bitter as that nature cannot turn it into 

 honey. Look at a little child on the meadow, no 

 matter though it has been born in the very heart 

 of a city, and seen nothing but brick walls, and 

 crowds, and rolling carriages, and pavements, and 

 dust ; let it once get its feet upon the sward, and 

 it will toss away the most costly playthings, and 

 never gather enough of the buttercups, and daisies, 

 and other wild flowers which prank the sod. And 

 if it shall start a little bird, which bounces onward 

 with easy wing, as if it were leaping from portion 

 to portion of the sightless air, how it will stretch 

 its little hands, and shout, and hurry on to catch 

 the living treasure, which, in its young but per- 

 fectly natural estimation, is of more value than 

 the wealth of the world. And if the bird perches 

 on the hedge, or the tree, and sings its sweet song 

 of security, " the little finger will at once be held 

 up by the little ear," and the other hand will be 

 extended, with the palm backwards, as if a sign 

 were given by nature herself for the world to listen 

 and admire. Infants are, in truth, our school- 

 masters in the study of nature ; and though we 

 might feel our experience compromised in learning 

 wisdom of them, there is no reason why we should 

 turn our wisdom into folly, by refusing to learn a 

 little happiness. Grant that age and gravity are 



