4 HALF-HOURS IN THE GREEN LANES. 



internal apparatus for the develop nent of an infinite 

 number of machines like itself, and the power of pro- 

 viding for an offspring it will never see. Even then, 

 it would be a mere machine, curious, nothing more. 

 Why should we think less of the myriads of life- 

 forms because they are constructed by a Divine 

 instead of a human Architect ? Do their wonderful 

 structure, instincts, and habits or numbers detract 

 from the wisdom that formed them, or the love that 

 so freely evolved them ? 



Such have been a few of our thoughts as we have 

 reclined, like a lazy poet, drinking in the mere joy 

 of existence, and thanking God for being allowed 

 even physical life ! We have made our selection of a 

 " tarn " in preference to a " pond " although both 

 words are frequently used synonymously because 

 the former is a pond of nature's own making, 

 whereas the latter may be of man's^ In this sense 

 the word is used by our older writers. Holinshed, 

 in his ' Chronicle,' says, " The Air, or Arre, riseth 

 out of the lake, or tame, south of Dombrooke, 

 wherein, as I heare, is none other fish than red 

 Trowt and Perch." A " tarn " may therefore be of 

 immense age compared with a pond, which simply 

 means an excavation cut in the ground in search of 

 clay or mould, and into which, when deserted, the 

 waters have been allowed to drain. It is true, that 

 even in such places, and within a very short time, 

 there will spring up, as by magic, or rather as if the 

 creative force had been specially and locally mani- 



