KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



107 



into all the rapturous scenes of all our happier 

 years? There is something in the freshness 

 of the soil, in the mossy bank, the balmy air, 

 the voices of the birds, the early and delicious 

 flowers, that we have seen and felt only in 

 childhood, and Spring. 



As for the " coming " flowers, and the 

 modest heads daily peeping out of sly 

 corners, — these can only be hinted at. Our 

 delight must be in searching for them. At 

 our very feet are dog-tooth violets, yellow 

 daffodils, polyanthuses, crocuses, snowdrops, 

 lilac primroses, — and what beside? Then 

 think of the fields of daisies, the gorgeous 

 tulips, — in fact the infinite variety that 

 awaits us, of every hue. Last, let us look at 

 the Lily of the Valley — our pet. In this mo- 

 dest little flower — one came enclosed to us 

 recently, reclining on a bed of moss — we find 

 all that is beautiful. It does not force itself 

 into notice. It is reserved — pure, sweet, 

 retired, delicate, graceful. It grows in the 

 shade, and leaves all others to seek the sun. 

 As we love the " Lily of the Valley," let our 

 sweet poet — Hurdis, sing its praises. It shall 

 have the last word, a proof of the estimation 

 in which we hold it : — 



To the curious eye 

 A little monitor presents her page 

 Of choice instruction, with her snowy bells — 

 The Lily of the Vale. She not affects 

 The public walk, nor gaze of mid-day sun ; 

 She to no state or dignity aspires ; 

 But silent and alone puts on her suit 

 And sheds her lasting perfume, — but for which 

 We had not known there was a thing so sweet 

 Hid in the gloomy shade. So when the blasts 

 Her sister tribes confound, and to the earth 

 Stoop their high heads, that vainly wereexpos'd, 

 She feels it not, but flourishes anew, — 

 Still shelter'd and secure. 



What more can we say to our readers ? 

 We have pointed out wherein [our pleasure 

 lies. Let us hope that what pleases us will 

 please others equally. There is plenty yet 

 to be done in the garden. This is a busy 

 month, and all future success with our flowers 

 depends upon the good use we now make of 

 our time. Early and late, let us use the 

 spade, the rake, the hoe, the fork. Away 

 with every semblance of a weed; and let 

 every arrangement be a perfect specimen of 

 neatness. The severe weather of January has 

 punished our choice plants sadly. These 

 now require our fondest care. In fact, the 

 garden claims us as its own. If we attend to 

 it, our reward will be great. If we neglect 

 it, we shall rue our folly. 



Next month, early, we shall be in the com- 

 pany of nightingales, black-caps, and hosts 

 of other spring visitors. The blackbird, too, 

 will be in his finest voice, and the birds' 

 " matins " will call us up betimes to join in 

 the general rejoicings. We pant for this, 



knowing it to be the prelude of a season 

 which for the lovers of nature possesses 

 charms indescribable. 



Even now, when the glorious sun shines 

 brightly, the whole face of nature rejoices. 

 A fine day sets us all in the highest glee. 



There is a blessing in the air 



Which seems a sense of joy to yield 



To the bare trees, and mountains bare, 

 And grass in the green field. 



Love, now a universal birth, 

 From heart to heart is stealing ; 



From earth to man, from man to earth, 

 It is the hour of feeling. 



feeling " 



Oh that these " hours of 

 abounded more amongst us ! Then should 

 our path in life be less chequered than it is 

 and our social amity more perfect. 



THE STUDY OF GEOLOGY. 



There are some remarks connected 

 with this subject in the New Edition of 

 " Phillips' Guide to Geology," that we are 

 anxious to register in the columns of " Our 

 Own." The progress of Geology is fast 

 setting aside the " old-wives' " favorite 

 dogmas ; and the time has now come when 

 "fact" must displace fiction :— 



It is obvious that for the right and full 

 understanding of the phenomena which come 

 before a geologist, he must often refer to the 

 established results of other branches of 

 physical science. Mineralogy must be his 

 guide in ascertaining the ingredients of rocks. 

 Chemistry must teach him their ultimate 

 constitution. He must apply to botany and 

 zoology for the examination of extinct plants 

 and animals ; and to astronomy and general 

 physics for correct general data within which 

 to confine his inferences. 



How clearly does this show us the reason 

 why the universally-occurring facts con- 

 cerning the structure of the globe have only 

 within a few years been submitted to any 

 regular investigation, or reduced to general 

 truths ! Generalisation in geology can only 

 be based upon the established results of 

 other more limited natural sciences. Every 

 discovery of laws in chemistry and zoology 

 widens the foundation of rational geology. 

 And so long as men adhere to the method of 

 philosophy taught by Bacon, geology can 

 never again be lost in vain speculations, never 

 again be an arena for discussing delusive 

 hypotheses and unsubstantial conjecture. 



Geology, whether regarded as a history of 

 the early physical revolutions of the earth, 

 or as the science by which this history has 

 been in some degree recovered, has really no 

 other foundation than exact observation and 

 careful induction. It would, therefore, be 



