INTRODUCTION. 



dependent upon Nature to afford to be ignorant of 

 her ways. 



At the outset, my young friends will find that 

 they must take some things at second-hand : and I 

 offer one assertion based upon the opinions of a 

 whole army of gray-beards. It is this : there is far 

 more of interest, far more of the marvelous, far 

 more of the truly beautiful, in the country than in 

 the town. 



See, now, as opportunity affords, if this is not 

 true. Gather a leaf, a flower, a butterfly, or a crys- 

 tal, and compare this handiwork of Nature with 

 that of the most skillful artists. I should be pleased 

 to hear from that child who, after doing this, thinks 

 otherwise. 



There's not a flower that skyward lifts 



Its laughing face to greet the sun ; 

 There's not a leaf that earthward drifts, 



Sad signal that its race is run, 

 But hath a potent part to play, 



Unmeaning, until led to look 

 Beyond the present, where as day, 



As pages of a printed book, 

 The truth outstands, and happy he, 

 Who hath been rightly taught to see. 



Charles C. Abbott. 



Prospect Htll, Trenton, N. J., 

 December 8, 1887. 



