THE LOWEST FORMS OF LIFE. 
157 
trate into tlie future ; and I could picture to myself the time 
when every workman at his bench would be able to recognize 
in each fragment of the material that passes through his hands 
an evidence of the Wise Power which controls his own opera- 
tions as well as those of nature. 
An d when I drew a comparison between the life of one of my 
own race and that of a Vorticella, I was surprised to find how 
many men there are who seem to take the animalcule for their 
model ; whose birth, growth, nourishment, wanderings, and, 
finally, whose tranquil “ fixed ” existence all resemble that of 
the little bell-flower animalcule ! A sense of awe crept over 
me when I recollected that, sooner or later, we all sink to rest 
as does the Vorticella, or the Yolvox in its winter stage ; but 
gloriously above all these thoughts rose the knowledge of the 
fact, that even these senseless, soulless beings do not die, but 
that the germ retains its existence and gives rise to fresh forms 
of grace and beauty. 
“ Fair summer’s bloom and autumn’s glow 
In vain pale winter brave ; 
N or youth, nor age, nor wisdom know 
A ransom from the grave ! 
“ But morning dawns and spring revives, 
And genial hours return ; 
So man’s immortal soul survives, 
And scorns the smouldering urn ! ” 
