54 
THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
ing in a kind of blissful drowsiness. The rays 
of the sun were glinting with a mellow radi¬ 
ance over the surface of the water and the soft 
plots of peat-bogs, or casting golden pencils 
of quivering light as they rifted through the 
branches of larch and willow. From the abun¬ 
dant green masses of spatterdocks and tangled 
algae which thickened the shallow waters, an 
unceasing effervescence of oxygen-bubbles flash¬ 
ed to the surface, sparkling like a fountain of 
shooting pearls. To the eye and touch of the 
unobserving, these collections were suggestive 
only of miasma and death, and the first thought 
would be to turn away and shut out the dreary 
picture, and seek to escape the danger of breath¬ 
ing its infected atmosphere. But the hand of 
him “ who doeth all things well ” fashioned 
these dark forms of growth, and gave them a 
place and a purpose in the economy of Nature, 
and doubtless a careful inspection will bring out 
clear traces of the divine handiwork. Let no 
one, therefore, be driven from an investigation 
by the repulsive outward appearance, or by any 
suspicion of lurking danger. A true love of 
Nature, by arousing an increase of vitality, often 
proves a shield to guard us from harm. 
