236 THE FAIRY-LAND OF SCIENCE. 
jects which we selected out of the Fairy-land of 
Science. You must not for a moment imagine, 
however, that we have in any way exhausted our 
fairy domain ; on the contrary, we have scarcely 
explored even the outskirts of it. The " History of a 
Grain of Salt," "A Butterfly's Life," or " The Labours 
of an Ant," would introduce us to fairies and wonders 
quite as interesting as those of which we have spoken 
in these Lectures. While "A Flash of Lightning," 
" An Explosion in a Coal-mine," or " The Eruption of 
a Volcano," would bring us into the presence of 
terrible giants known and dreaded from time imme- 
morial. 
But at least we have passed through the gates, and 
have learnt that there is a world of wonder which we 
may visit if we will ; and that it lies quite close to us, 
hidden in every dewdrop and gust of wind, in every 
brook and valley, in every little plant or animal. 
We have only to stretch out our hand and touch 
them with the wand of inquiry, and they will answer 
us and reveal the fairy forces which guide and govern 
them ; and thus pleasant and happy thoughts may 
be conjured up at any time, wherever we find our- 
selves, by simply calling upon nature's fairies and 
asking them to speak to us. Is it not strange, then, 
that people should pass them by so often without a 
thought, and be content to grow up ignorant of all 
the wonderful powers ever active in the world around 
them ? 
Neither is it pleasure alone which we gain by a 
study of nature. We cannot examine even a tiny 
sunbeam, and picture the minute waves of which it 
