102 LIFE IN NATURE. 



than look at the book? Does he not, with the 

 utmost assurance, call out whatever letter comes 

 uppermost, whatever word presents to his little 

 imagination the slightest semblance of plausibility ? 

 He never looks until he cannot guess any more. 



Mothers are patient, Heaven be praised ; but not 

 so patient as our great Mother. For when the 

 young rogue, finding it is of no use to guess any 

 more, says, in mock resignation, " I can't tell," the 

 maternal indignation will sometimes flash forth. 

 But when we, finding that the mystery of life will 

 not yield to our hypotheses, say, " We cannot learn 

 it ; it is a mystery insoluble," no sound of im- 

 patience or rebuke escapes the calm lips of Nature. 

 Silently as of old the great volume is spread out 

 before us year by year. Quietly and lovingly, as 

 at the first, her finger points us to the words, written 

 in tender herb, and stately tree, and glowing flower ; 

 ever to our hearts repeating her simple admonition, 

 "Look." She knows we shall obey her when the 

 time is come. 



But we are wandering from the subject. The 

 law that the mechanical conditions under which they 



