BOTANY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 121 



Oaks and Pumpkins on the ground, besides the 

 ones given in the story you told me you had 

 read the other day. Will you repeat it ? 



L. Two gardeners once beneath an oak, 

 Lay down to rest, when Jack thus spoke : 

 " You must confess, dear Will, that nature 

 Is but a blundering kind of creature ; 

 And I nay, why that look of terror? 

 Could teach her how to mend her error." 

 " Your talk," qouth Will, " is bold and odd, 

 What you call nature, I call God." 

 " Well, call him by what name you will," 



Qouth Jack, " he manages but ill." 

 " Nay, from the very tree we're under 



I'll prove that Providence can blunder." 



Quoth Will, " through thick and thin you dash, 



I shudder Jack at words so rash ; 



I trust to what the Scriptures tell, 



He hath done all things always icell." 



Qouth Jack, " I'm lately grown a wit, 



And think all good a lucky hit. 



To prove that Providence can err , 



Not words, but facts, the truth aver. 



To this vast oak lift up thine eyes, 



Then view that acorn's paltry size 



How foolish on a tree so tall, 



To place that tiny cup and ball. 



Xow, look again, yon pumpkin see, 



It weighs two pounds at least, nay three ; 



Yet this large fruit, where is it found 1 



Why nearly trailing on the ground. 



Had Providence asked my advice, 



I would have changed it in a trice ; 



11 



