AFTER A STORM. 117 



it has eaten out for itself, the lovely Patella Coe-> 

 rulea is found in the centre of the fibrous root, and is 

 known by its radiating lines of deepest ultramarine. 

 If our frond has come from the 



" Calm depths of ocean, where the wave has no strife, 

 Where the wind is a stranger, and sea-snake hath life," 



then we find coils of pink glossy ribbon, which are 

 millions of eggs laid by the pretty sea-slugs called 

 Doris or Eolus. If we cut off the tangled root and put 

 it in a basin of sea water, such a host of tiny beings 

 will come forth and swim about as may well keep the 

 microscope at work for a whole morniug ; besides, the 

 stem is fringed with small seaweeds for the album. A 

 red cushiony spot will be Callithamnion JPluma ; flut- 

 tering little red banners will be Delesseria Buscifolia, 

 or fronds of the lovely Ptilota Plumosa. 



"We have not touched upon the hidden uses of this 

 "brown sea stem. Look reverently at it. Do you know 

 that a little slice under the microscope will show you 

 a tissue of delicate cells in which G-od has stored up 

 one of the most precious remedies for suffering man- 

 kind ? that He has given the Laminaria-stem power 

 to abstract from the sea a precious substance called 

 Iodine — that which alone can relieve the pale, sad suf- 

 ferer from scrofula, reduce the swollen glands, check 

 the ravages of cancer, act on the torpid liver, ease the 

 racking pains of rheumatism, give the flush of health 

 to the wasted weary invalid ? Yes — this is hidden in 

 that rough brown stem, brought out by fire in the kelp- 

 kilns of Ireland and Scotland. Another use is its 

 importance in the manufacture of glass : our fragile 

 beautiful glass springs from the old brown seaweed. 



