6 HOW NATURE STUDY SHOULD BE TAUGHT 



have tied together, and go out swimming on, they 

 stand up and dive off into deep water from these. 

 I know how it was when I was a boy ; couldn't 

 dive very well, either. We call that a raft, but, 

 after all, it is a boat, of course differing from the 

 others. Then, you know, there's Uncle Standish's 

 big boat, plain, but serviceable ; he uses it to take 

 fertilizer, and tools, and crops across the pond, to 

 what he calls his ' westside lot.' And, of course, 

 now you're all thinking about the great ships with 

 their white sails, and the swift steamers, with 

 their powerful engines, that are also boats. So, 

 you see, we have increased our knowledge of 

 boats by broader experiences. Now, we come 

 back home, to the path down through the huckle- 

 berry bushes, to the old oak, where so many boats 

 of all kinds that you best know are tied to the 

 shore. 



" Now, for the definition. A boat is, such boats 

 as all these — I saw one tied by a rope to a maple 

 tree — but I am wandering [and, by the way, some 

 of the young folks, in spite of the absence of any 

 dimple, were venturing on the twinkle, and titter, 

 ing a little] ; yes, now let me get a definition all 

 around that will be clear cut and apply to any of 

 these boats. A boat is — a boat is — is — a — why, 



