You] AND SYMBOLS. 405 



young life in any institution is that which repairs its defects, 

 enlarges its usefulness, and stimulates its charities. The young 

 life, in any family, is the influence which suns the path of age, 

 invigorates exertion, and quickens the growth of the virtues. 

 Where would the valour and vigour of the country be if deprived 

 of the support of young life 1 Disraeli says that almost every- 

 thing that is great has been done by youth ; and the history of 

 heroes is the history of youth. In the vegetable world the mission 

 and influence of the young life is not less plain than powerful. 

 According to Louis Figuier, the bud must be considered as a 

 fundamental element in the plant, which, without it, would 

 soon perish. It is the bud which year by year repairs the 

 losses, supplies the flowers, the leaves, the branches which 

 have disappeared. Through its means the plant increases in 

 growth. Through it its existence is prolonged. The bud is the 

 true renovator of the vegetable world. Therefore these buds are 

 everywhere on the roots, the leaves, and sometimes even on 

 the flowers, for Nature never leaves sight of the phenomena 

 essential to organic life namely, the production of new beings. 



v. 



