122 HARDY FERNS, 
hill has still the same shadows, the valley the 
same musical river. Their voices speak the same 
truths in the same tones ; the vexed murmurs of 
the world touch them not ; they praise God day 
and night, though man in his ungrateful egotism 
will not listen, will not echo their simple song. 
Every created thing has something good and 
pleasant to say to us if only we will listen aright 
— some heauty to be revealed if we will seek for it 
— some wondrous exhibition of skill, greater and 
more perfect than can be shown by the greatest 
living man ; and, as we search and look, the voice, 
the beauty, and the display of skill will all lead us 
up to that high communion which the Most High 
encourages His children to hold with Him. A few 
more words upon the Ferns, and I have done. 
Of all that I have named, the Aspleniums are 
the most difficult to manage as a race. They one 
and all hate stagnant moisture. They require 
hght, and sun, and shade — shade for the roots, 
and sun for the fronds. Lastreas are less diffi- 
cult ; they do not need sun as a necessity — they 
