TOM TIDLER'S GPtOUND. 



Think of your home on " Tom Tidler's ground," 



Among the gold and siivei.— Eliza Cook. 



66 WOM TIDLER'S GROUND" ^yas the ro- 

 -^ mantic El Dorado of our childhood, and 

 even now, when inexorable Time is planting his 

 crow's-foot on our brow, we cannot forget the 

 stories or shake off the influences of the days of 

 our inuocency. Old or young, rich or poor, we 

 have all our fairy land, whether in dreams or reali- 

 ties, and Tom Tidler's Ground is a domain trodden 

 more or less by all. Some will skip over the plain 

 with a merry heart and a smiling face, kicking all 

 obstacles out of the way, or o'erleaping them ; 

 whilst others will be continually stumbling, tripping, 

 knocking their shins, and sufi'eriug manifold discom- 

 fitures; but it matters not, the great aim is still 

 kept in view — the object is still pursued, — 



Along with tlic crowd on Tom Tidler's ground, 

 Looking for gold and silver. 



Wherever there is an earnest pursuit of some 

 worldly business, a striving early and late to push 

 their way in the world, to " make both ends meet," 

 and ultimately to retire from the contest, and leave 

 the battle-field of competition to younger and more 

 active men, there is "Tom Tidler's ground." Wher- 

 ever there is some " liobby " followed zealously, 

 some occupation of leisure hours which absorbs the 

 cares of life, and creates out of a barren waste a 

 fairy land of order, harmony, and beauty, there is 

 "Tom Tidler's ground." Wherever there is a 

 family circle in which every member strives to ad- 

 vance the well-being of all, where petty jealousies are 

 unknown, where love is the motive power, and hap- 

 piness the aim of all, there is " Tom Tidler's ground." 

 In fact, wherever as much of happiness can be 

 attained as this world can furnish, that is "Tom 

 Tidler's ground." And as for the " gold and silver " 

 which children are apt to regard as the greatest 

 good, as the highest i-eward, as the most superlative 

 treasure in life, these are represented by different 

 objects, according as the pursuer estimates the prize 

 for which he constantly aims ; aud although some 

 adhere tenaciously to the letter of the old legend, 

 and seek veritable " gold and silver ;" and though — 



Youth may have vanish'd and manhood come round, 

 Yet how busy they are on Tom Tidler's ground, 

 Lookmg for gold and silver ; — 



there are others who rate at a higher value than 

 mere gold aud silver that which elevates the mind, 

 enlarges the heart, and leads the possessor " through 

 nature up to nature's God." 



As the bright sun is inviting all that love beauty 

 to come abroad and warm themselves, aud thaw 

 away the last icicle of selfishness from their hearts, 

 that they may gaze on the face of nature with sym- 

 pathy and affection, we cannot resist the impulse 

 once again to plead for the study of natural objects 

 as a worthy — 



Tom Tidler's ground, 

 Where springeth the gold and silver. 



Everywhere treasures are being laid open for the 

 microscopist, and may be had for the trouble of 

 stooping and picking up. In the woodland the early 

 flowers are shedding their pollen, or their leaves are 

 spotted with numistakal)lc evidences of the develop- 

 ment of microscopic fungi. On the anemone, the 

 pilewort, the sheep's sorrel, the nipplewort, the 

 coltsfoot, the nettle, the sanicle, and the violet, 

 cluster-cups are bursting through the cuticle, and 

 expanding their fringed lips. On the leaves of the 

 wild hyacinth, the dandelion, the comm.on thistle, the 

 mercury, the hog-weed, the wild strawberry, and 

 many others, the golden or brown dust o£ Uredines 

 appear in patches. Mosses display then- fringed 

 peristomes, and liverworts are green aud glorious. 

 Every drop of stagnant water quivers with life, 

 Cyclops, volvox, and hydra, are well represented, 

 with a host of kindred spirits which constitute the 

 low-life of the animal world. Along the sea-shore, 

 zoophytes and sea-weeds, in variety sufiicient to 

 employ the microscope for a month, may be 

 gathered in a day. Moths and butterflies yield their 

 curious autenna3 and multiform scales ; flies offer 

 their eyes, tongues, and toes ; spiders their legs aud 

 feet ; bees and wasps their tongues and stings ; and 

 all the air, the earth, and the ocean are peopled with 

 myriad forms, which only await the inquiring spirit 



