FRAME-WORK OF THE HOUSE." 39 



When we examine the foot of the camel, the 

 elephant, the horse, the dog, the cat or the 

 bird, we are struck with the wisdom of the 

 Creator, in adapting their feet in so remarkable 

 a manner to the sort of life they are destined 

 to lead. The foot of the camel is so made, 

 that it does not sink deeply into the sand on 

 which it travels. The horse could not travel 

 much in the deep sands of Arabia. His foot 

 is more elastic, and made for firmer ground. 

 It is, indeed, so very elastic, that those who 

 shoe the horse find it necessary to make the 

 shoe as narrow around the edge as possible, so 

 that the iron may not press upon the inside of 

 the foot ; I mean, upon the softer and more 

 elastic part, inside of the hoof. 



I have not room to go into farther particulars 

 about the foot ; but I should like to do it. 

 Children are very fond of these studies, though 

 some people think otherwise. They are better 

 philosophers, too, than we usually allow them 

 to be ; and if these subjects were only pre- 

 sented in plain language, and the instructor 

 would take time enough, they would under- 

 stand the philosophy of the foot better than 

 many of us, their seniors, suppose. People 



