BOTANY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 101 



greatly discouraged by the difficulties which en- 

 vironed him on a distant excursion, and was 

 fast sinking under his troubles, when looking at 

 some Moss beneath his foot, he was so struck 

 with the providence of God exhibited in its for- 

 mation, that he resolved never to despair, know- 

 ing that the same kind care was over all his 

 creatures. Exiled from cultivated ground, they 

 advance toward barren and un tilled land, cov- 

 ering it with their substance, and, thus not only 

 furnish a beautiful green carpet when nothing 

 else can be seen, but also when they perish 

 lay a foundation upon which larger plants may 

 find support. You know Wordsworth's lines 

 on the Moss, do you not? 



/>. There is a fresh and lovely sight, 

 A beauteous heap, a hill of moss 

 Just half a foot in height ; 

 All lovely colors there you see, 

 AH colors that were ever seen : 

 And mossy net network too is there, 

 As if by hand of lady fair 

 The work had woven been ; 

 And cups the darling of the eye, 

 So deep is their vennillion dye. 

 Ah me ! what lonely tufts are these 

 Of olive green and scarlet bright ; 

 In spikes in branches and in stars, 

 Green, rod, aud pearly white ; 



