CHAPTER XXVI 



INSPIRATIONS OF NATURE STUDY 



In an opera-house in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, 

 it was my pleasure and honor to occupy an easy 

 chair on the stage and near the orator of the 

 evening. How much I enjoyed that lecture, how 

 I forgot opera-house, stage, easy-chair, everything 

 except the speaker's eloquence and the pleasure 

 of following his inspiring and virile thought, I 

 cannot well describe. I shall never forget the 

 memorable occasion, and I shall always remember 

 the eloquent speaker's peroration. He was eulo- 

 gizing the earth as an inspiration to any world 

 that may succeed this one. His concluding 

 words were those of the following beautiful poem 

 by M. F. Butts : 



A WHITE WATER-LILY. 

 " O star on the breast of the river, 



O marvel of bloom and grace, 

 Did you fall straight down from heaven. 



Out of the sweetest place ? 

 You are white as the thoughts of an angel ; 

 187 



