susceptible. None will ask the now common question, "Is life worth living?" who will rise to the realisation of such experience as this. With them the impression will be rather that "Life is all too short" to compass but a small portion of the boundless realms of knowledge ever opening up to them.

The desire for Immortality is not only awakened -it is intensified by every fresh accession to the store of this divine wealth, and, growing in intimacy, they become one in spirit with the beauty, harmony, unity, order, joy, sorrow, and unspeakable beneficence of the universal Divinity, who, permeating, pervading, animating, directing, and controlling, is the great eternal "All in all."

The great founders of the religions of mankind, and the seers and the moralists, were in their several ways, and according to the means at their disposal, students of Nature. They were, before all things, impressed and inspired by communion with her, and drew thence their loftiest teachings for the guidance of millions. Whatever there is

of good in all the diverse religious systems of antiquity is derived from this source. The truths thus acquired still stand out as gems amidst a mass of rubbish, or as light in darkness, life in death. If in comparative ignorance such results were obtained, what might not be expected and realised with our present means and appliances? With the accumulations of the past as aids and warnings, how much greater should be our success! How truer our inferences and sublimer our inspirations! This is the goal to which humanity is tending; and to the aiding of this result this little book is offered as one of the smallest contributions by its author.

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'By swift degrees the love of Nature works,
And warms the bosom; till at last, sublim'd

To rapture and enthusiastic heat,

We feel the present Deity, and taste
The joy of God."

VIGNETTES

FROM

INVISIBLE LIFE.

I.-PLANT ANIMALS.

"Joy you in fairies and in elves?

We are of that sort ourselves."- CAMPION.

"Full Nature swarms with life; one wondrous whole
Of animals or atoms organised."-THOMSON.

WHAT We have sketched on the next page resembles a tree; but when the drawing is examined certain peculiarities of an exceptional character present themselves. There are the trunk and branches and flowers, but no leaves. But many trees develop the flower first. And then in our sketch there is no sign of leafage; neither are there any roots. Again, the flowers themselves seem to be fringed with hair. Obviously, there is something new and strange about this apparent tree; and it is indeed

B