CONCLUSION. 376 



unalloyed by any debasing mixture — ^tending to ex- 

 pand and harmonize his mind, and elevate it to con- 

 ceptions of the majestic, sublime, serene, and beautiful 

 arrangements instituted by the God of nature, must 

 possess an organization sadly deficient, or be surround- 

 ed by circumstances indeed lamentable." I would 

 recommend the study of the honey-bee as one best 

 calculated to awaken the interest of the indifferent. 

 What can arrest the attention like their structure — 

 their diligence in collecting stores for the future — their 

 secretion of wax and moulding it into structures with 

 a mathematical precision astonishing the profoundest 

 philosophers — their maternal and fraternal affection 

 in regarding the mother's every want, and assiduous 

 care in nursing her offspring to maturity — their unac- 

 countable display of instinct in emergencies or acci- 

 dents, filling the beholder, with wonder and amaze- 

 ment ? The mind thus contemplating such astonishing 

 operations, cannot well avoid looking beyond these 

 results to their divine Author. Therefore let every 

 mind that perceives one ray of light from nature's 

 na^sterious transactions, and is capable of receiving 

 -the least enjoyment therefrom, pursue the path still 

 inviting onward in the pursuit. Every new acqui- 

 sition will bring an additional satisfaction, and assist 

 in the next attempt, which will be commenced with a 

 renewed and constantly increasing zest; and will 

 arise from the contemplation a wiser, better, and a 

 nobler being, far superior to those who have never 

 soared beyond the gratifications of the mere animal, 

 grovelling in the dark. Is there, in the whole circle 



