6 LIFE AND HER CHILDREN. 
selves so as to be more able than others ? Would 
they work hard day and night to make new inven- 
tions, or discover new lands, and found fresh colonies, 
or be in any way so useful, or learn so much as they 
do now ? 
No, it is the struggle for life and the necessity 
for work which makes people invent, and plan, and 
improve themselves and things around them. And 
so it is also with plants and animals. Life has to 
educate all her children, and she does it by giving 
the prize of success, health, strength, and enjoyment 
to those who can best fight the battle of existence, 
and do their work best in the world. 
Every plant and every animal which is born upon 
the earth has to get its own food and earn its own 
livelihood, and to protect itself from the attacks of 
others. Would the spider toil so industriously to 
spin her web if food came to her without any 
exertion on her part ? Would the caddis worm 
have learnt to build a tube of sand and shells to 
protect its soft body, or the oyster to take lime from 
the sea-water to form a strong shell for its home, if 
they had no enemies to struggle against, and needed 
no protection ? Would the bird have learnt to build 
her nest or the beaver his house if there was no need 
for their industry ? 
But as it is, since the whole world is teeming 
with life, and countless numbers of seeds and eggs 
and young beginnings of creatures are only waiting 
for the chance to fill any vacant nook or corner, 
every living thing must learn to do its best and to 
find the place where it can succeed best and is least 
likely to be destroyed by others. And so it comes to 
