Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-10-15
CHAPTER XVIII.

As autumn approached, Charney could
not forbear expressing TO his friend. as they
sat together on the Bench Of Conference,
his regret at losing all hopes Of Picciola's
second Towering, aud his lamentations over
her last blossom
Grardi Immediately attempted TO supply
the loss BY dissertation on the qualification
Of plants, and the evidence thereby afforded
Of The intervention Of an all-wise Proyi-
dence.
Girardi FIRST alluded TO the winged form
Of the seeds Of certain plants, whose foliage,
large and complicated, would oppose their
dispersion but for the feathery iut attached
to each, which causes them 10 float in the
atmosphere and described the elastic pods
in which others are enclosed. which, open.
ing by a sudden spring, at the moment OF
maturity, discharge the seed to distance.
"These wings, these springs" observed the
old man, ''are hands and feet bestowed up
on them by the Almighty, that they may
reach their destined place, and terminate
in the sunshine. What human eye, for in.
stance" said he, "is about 10 follow. in their
aerial fight, the membranous seeds Of the
elm, The pine, the ash--crcling in the at
mosphere amid volumes Of other seeds, ris.
ing by their own buoyoncy, and apparently
flying in search Of the birds, Of which they
are TO form the nourishment 7"
The old man next proceeded TO explain
the phenomena Of aquatic plants how the
seeds Of those destined for the adornment Of
brooks, or the banks Of lakes or ponds, are
endowed with form enabling them to float
upon the water, so as TO deposit themselves
in various parts Of the beach, or cross from
one bank to another; while such as are in
tended to take root in the bed OF the river
fell at once by their own weight TO the bot
tom, and give birth TO reeds and rushes, or
those beautiful water-lilies, whose roots are
in the mud beneath, while their large green
shining lenyes, and snow-whte blossoms,
float in pride and glory upon the bosom of
the waters. The vallisneria was not forgot.
ten; and the male and female plants Of
which being disunted, the former uncoils
her long spiral peduncle, to raise her flower
above the surface of the stream, while the
male. unpossessed Of asimiar faculty, breaks
its fragile hower-stalk, and rises spontane-
ously TO the surface, TO accomplish the act
OF formulation.
How is it," cried Chsrney, THAT men
remain insensible to the existence Of these
wondrous prodigies OF nature
Aud the old man reioiced al the exclama-
ton, as proof that his lessons were not
shed upon barren and ungraieful soil.
TEL me-" demanded the Count, "has
the insect creation, 10 which your studies
have been peculiarly addressed, furnished
you with facts as curious as those for which
am indebted to my Picciolaw
"S0 curious" replied Girardi, chat you
will not fully appreciate even the marvels
OF Picciola till you have become acquainted
with the hosts Of animated beings which
hover over her verdant branches You will
then le,rn 10 admire the secret laws which
connect The plant with the insect, the insect
with the plant; and perceive that order is
Heavens first law and that one vast intel.
ligence influences the whole creation"
Girardi was proceeding TO enlarge upon
the harmony Of the universe, when, pausng
suddenly, he pointed Out TO his companion
a brilliant beautiful butterfly, poised on one
Of the twigs of his plant, with peculiar
quivering Of the wings. "See" cried he,
"Picciola bastens TO expound my theory l..
An engagement has Just been contracted be.
tween her and yonder insect, which is now
consigning its posieriiy TO her guardian.
ship"
And when the butterfly flew away. Char.
ney verified the assertion by examining a
little group Of eggs, attached by vscous
substance TO the bark
Do you imagine" inquired Girardi,
that i is by chance the butterfly has pro-
ceeded hither, 10 inirust to Picciola this pre-.
clous deposite 2 On the contrary, Nature
has assigned 10 every plant analogies with
certain insects. Every plant has IL insect