THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 13 $ 
and Stentors attract first and most marked atten¬ 
tion. The peculiarity of these wonderful den¬ 
izens of the mysterious drop of water is the 
ciliated wheel which protrudes from the head, 
by means of which a graceful and rapid loco¬ 
motion is secured, and also the food is captured. 
Adorned with the brightest and ever-changing 
colors, restless and eccentric in their move¬ 
ments, they awaken an untiring interest. These 
strange forms of minute life abound in nearly 
all shallow deposits of water, delighting in the 
warm sunshine and rejoicing in the hidden life 
which their Creator has bestowed upon them. 
But, having introduced them to your notice, 
they will be left for your future and more care¬ 
ful inspection; yet let us not fail to read the 
grand moral lesson so broadly and legibly writ¬ 
ten on every drop of water and slimy frond 
found in the dismal pond wherein is placed the 
first round of the beautiful ladder which we are 
striving to ascend. 
“ In our perusal of these unique pages rnuch 
that is curious has been sought out, but never¬ 
theless we have only touched the borders of 
this mysterious world. From a clot of ani¬ 
mated jelly we have passed on through grow- 
