NATURE AND HER HARMONIES. 
15 
hand, to go to tlie Sunday school, (for all days are jSundsLjs 
to him) where this little Parson teaches : — ^it is possible such 
may learn of more things there than they have dreamed of 
yet. 
In addition to the healthful tonic of his laughing ethics, 
through which their lank sides may grow to shake with fat, 
perhaps the Parson, in exhibiting the process by which that 
woven domicil of his is constructed, may enlighten them as 
to the absurdity of certain dogmatisms concerning instinct. 
Beside the consummate and delicate skill with which he 
plies the long, fibrous thread, with small feet and needle-like 
bill, weaving, plaiting, sewing — there is something in that 
facility of adaptation, which, in Louisiana, exhibits the nest 
" coarsely woven," that the air may pass through, and in the 
middle States " lined with soft and warm materials," that so 
curiously resembles " reasoning ;" that is amazingly like an 
independent volition, guided by the familiar and simple pro- 
cess of " Induction !" Who knows ? "J. little bird iold me 
sor 
The Parson is indignantly eloquent upon these points 
sometimes. He sa^^s that he displays quite as much judg- 
ment and more foresight, in selecting the locality and ma- 
terial of his house, than we "animals on two legs, without 
feathers" ever do ; that he is bred to be a better artist than 
one in a thousand of us ; that Orioles are no more compel- 
led, by a resistless impulse, to build their houses in a partic- 
ular way, without understanding the reason why, than the 
Hindoos are, to build Pagodas ; that he does understand the 
reason perfectly, and it is the plainest imaginable one. 
This particular form is chosen, because it suits his habits, 
tastes, and mode of Hfe best, and that, the Chinaman, who 
has built his house in the same way (so far as we know) for 
three thousand years, can give no better reason. 
That though a particular outline suits him best, and suited 
his forefathers the best, yet they have been in the habit of 
altering the construction and material ; and he knows why, 
