dull indeed must be the ear that thrills 

 not on hearing it. When emitted, as it 

 often is, from the dark depths of the 

 unwholesome swamps, it operates so pow- 

 erfully on the mind that it by contrast 

 inspires a feeling of wonder and delight, 



and on such occasions has impressed me 

 with a sense of the goodness of the Al- 

 mighty Creator, who has rendered ev- 

 ery spot of earth in some way sub- 

 servient to the welfare of His creat- 

 ures." 



VOICES IN THE GARDEN. 



As the snows were being guarded on 

 the mountain tops by the gentle herder 

 Spring two small seeds, dropped from 

 the same busy hand, fell so near to- 

 gether in a fresh furrow that they could 

 hear each other shiver as they struck the 

 cold, damp earth and were covered over 

 by the same. 



"How cold our bed is," said seed num- 

 ber One, as a cold chill ran down her 

 back. 



*'Yes," replied seed number Two. ''But 

 we will soon get used to this cold, and 

 when Father Sun sends the sunbeams to 

 play on our top cover we will get warmth 

 from their little hot feet." 



With this thought seed number Two 

 snuggled down in her new bed of earth 

 and pulled the tiny clods around her and 

 shut her eyes to sleep. But seed number 

 One still shivered and complained and 

 wished that she was back in the paper 

 package so loudly that all her compan- 

 ions in the furrow were disturbed, espe- 

 cially number Two, who was lying so 

 near. 



''Aren't you feeling more comforta- 

 ble?" asked seed number Two. 



"No, I am not. I am freezing, and 

 these cold clods are mashing me. I wish 

 I was back in the paper though we 

 were crowded on top of each other." 



"But you could not grow there." 



"No, but I could be more comfortable. 

 If it takes these old black clods to make 

 me grow I don't know that I want to 

 grow," and she gave a sniff to show her 

 contempt. 



"Stop ! You don't realize what you are 

 saying ! You are near committing the 

 unpardonable sin. Do you remember your 

 promise to Mother Nature as she placed 

 within vour bosom the sacred germ of 

 life? That promise which 3^ou gave to 

 grow, at the first opportunity, and to do 



all within your power to become strong 

 and vigorous, producing seeds in which 

 she could place like germs. Then have 

 you forgotten your dying mother's re- 

 quest that you live up to this solemn 

 promise?" 



Seed number One did not reply, but 

 gave a little rebellious grunt to show her 

 state of feelings and remained silent. 



This was a great relief to the other 

 seeds, who were enduring the discomforts 

 of their new and chill}^ environments 

 with as much fortitude as possible, hop- 

 ing and believing that their new home 

 would yet become more comfortable. Fi- 

 nally all became quiet and they shut their 

 eyes and waited and dreamed. 



The cold, dark night was at last over. 

 The seeds in their little dark chambers 

 could not see this, but they knew it was 

 so when they felt the warm influence of 

 the sunbeams as it crept stealthily down 

 through the damp soil and warmed their 

 cold, wet wrappings. Oh, how it did re- 

 vive them! They grew larger as they 

 tried to express their thankfulness. The 

 quickening power within pictured to them 

 bright sunshine, refreshing showers and 

 warm, balmy nights. But there they lay 

 helpless in the dark, waiting and dream- 

 ing and dimly feeling that — 



Instinct within that reaches and towers 

 And, groping blindly above for light, 

 Climbs to a soul in grass and flowers. 



But the greatest change of all was in 

 seed number One. She had spent the 

 dark, cold night in thinking of the prom- 

 ise she had given and about which she 

 had been reminded by seed number Two. 

 Gradually the angry, rebellious feelings 

 passed away and she began to realize how 

 sinful her spirit had been. And now that 

 the warm sunshine had turned the Cold, 

 wet clods into a blessing she most heart- 



101 



