11 



next kindred object, and reverence the Almighty Architect who hath 

 reared a structure for our dwelling-place so diversified and so 

 unique — so wondrous, and yet so necessary. The green, slimy- 

 looking substance on the stagnant pond is looked upon too commonly 

 with loathing, believing, as many do, that it is corruption emanating 

 from feculent water. Poor thoughtless ones ! Had they but com- 

 mon inquisitiveness upon such matters — did they not deem these 

 portions of creation too contemptible for their inquiry, they would 

 have ascertained that the green slime was a beautiful Alga, pleasing 

 to the eye, and, by its act of vegetating, freeing that stagnant pool 

 of its impurities, which might otherwise spread around pestilence 

 and death. Surely this little fact is worth knowing. 



But let us advert to more comprehensible arguments : let us 

 speak of dollars and cents. From what bodies in nature is kelp 

 extracted ? Algag. From whence is iodine chiefly obtained ? AlgaB. 

 What constitutes the sea-board farmer's second most impoitant 

 crop ? Algae, 



SONG OF THE SEA-WEED. 



The Vraic ! the Vraic ! oh, the Vraic shall be 



The theme of our chanting mirth ; 

 For we come to gather the grass of the sea, 



To quicken the grains of the earth. 

 • This grass it grower h where no man moweth, 



All thick and rich and strong, 

 And it meeteth our hand on the desolate strand, 



Ready for rake and prong. 

 So gather and carry, for often we need 

 The nurturing help of the good Sea-weed. 



The Vraic ! the Vraic ! come, take a farewell 



Of your bounding and billowy home; 

 No more will ye dive in the fathomless cell, 



Or leap in the sparkling foam ; 

 Far from the Petrel, the Gannet, and Grebe, 



Thou shalt be scattered abroad, 

 And carefully strewn on the mountain glebe, 



To add to tha harvest hoard. 

 The land must be tilted, the tiller must feed, 

 And the corn will be helped by the good Sea-weed. 



The Vraic ! the Vraic ! pile it on the fire ; 



Let it cr.ickle and smoke in the wind, 

 And a smouldering heap of treasure we'll keep 



In the ashes it leaveth behind. 



