6 2 
BIRD-FLYING. 
precipitate themfelves upon the waters; the celerity with 
which they evade the billows; the accuracy with which 
they aim at the coveted morfel floating upon the dancing 
wave; and the graceful eafe with which in circling flight 
they mount again into the air. And this,—not for an hour 
—not for hours—but all day long —a light calculated to 
intereft any lover of Nature, but of efpecial intereft to one 
who at five years of age began his experiments in aerial loco¬ 
motion, by attempts to walk upon the air. I felt quite fure 
I could do it: nor was my faith weakened in the flighted: 
degree by the conftant failure that attended my efforts: nor 
has it ever weakened fince:—what ought to be done can be 
done. And now, as I look back over a wafte of more than 
threefcore years—-that childifh effort, in the light of my 
dragon-fly experience, and in the light of the great present— 
the fteady advancement of the human mind—the marvels 
of fcience—the onward march of men towards mighty goals 
—the Alpine peaks of man’s afcent towards God already 
climbed :—in the light, I fay, and in view of all this—as 
I look back upon that infantile faith and effort, I cannot 
help regarding it in the light of a prophecy and an infpi- 
ration ! The fcene is all before me now, I can fee it to¬ 
day, as it took place fixty-two years ago. The deferted 
fchool, fcholars all gone home—(my father’s fchool)—a 
little child alone: alone with his own thoughts : and 
“ the thoughts of a child, are long, long thoughts.”—Yes, I 
felt fure I could do it: and mounting one of the long 
