Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-08-26

argument.
IT'S all very well !" cried he. '1n this
instance. as in others, fortunate coinci-
dence Of circumstances has favoured the de-
velopement Of incomplete creation. Il was
the inherent qualification OF the nature Of
the plant to be born with a lever in order TO
upraise the earth, aud a buckler 10 shelter
is tender head without which II must have
persisted in the germ, like myriads of indi-
viduais of its species which proved incapa-
bic OF accomplishing their dcstinies How
can one guess the number Of unsuccessful
efUrts which nature may have made, ere
she perfected single subject sufficiently
organized A blind man may sometimes
shoot home; but how many uncoun,ed ar
rows must be lost before he attsins the
markl For millions Of forgotten centuries,
matter has been trituraling between mega
tive aud positive attraction. How then can
one wonder that chance should sometimes
produce coincidencei This feshy screen
serves TO shelter the early leaves. Granted
But will il enlarge its dimensions to con.
tain the rest as they are put forth, and de-
fend them from cold aud insecisi No, no
no evidence Of the calculating Of presid-
ing Providence! A lucky chance is the
alpha and omega OF the universe r.
Able logieisn l--profound reasoner lis.
ten, and Nature shall lind thousand argu-
ments TO silence your presumption Deign
only TO fix your inquirlng eyes upon this fee
bic plant, which The munlhcence OF Heaven
has called into existence between the stones
OF your prison You are so far right that
the coiyledon will not expand SO as to
cover with ITS protecting wings the future
progress OF the plant. Already whitening.
they will eventually fail and decay. But
they will suffice TO accomplish the purpose
Of nature. So long as the northern wind
drives down from the Alps their heavy fogs
or sprinkling OF sleet, the new leaves will
find a retreat impermeable TO the chilly air.
caulked with resinous or viscous matter,
and expanding or closing according to the
impulse OF the weather; finally distended
by propitious atmosphere, the leaflets will
emerge clinging TO each other for mutual
support. clothed with furry covering of
down TO secure them against the fatal iniiu-
ence oil atmospheric changes. Did ever
mother watch more tenderly over the pres
ma, Sir Count, which you might long ago
nave learned to admire, had you descended
IRON the nightly regions oil human science.
10 study the humble though majestic works
OF God The deeper your researches, the
more positive had been your conviction
lor where dangers abound, know that the
Pfo'eetioh OF inc PROVIDENCE wblch you de-
ny Is voochsaled thousand and a thousand
'oia IN pity 10 the blindness OF mankind
In the WEAKNESS OF captivity, Charney
was soon satisfied to occupy his idle hours
oy directing his attention to the transforms
nohs OF 'ne plant. but when ne attempted
70 contend win II IN argument, the answers
OF the vegetable logician were too much for
him.:
TO what purpose these still bristles, dis
hguring slender stem demanded the
Count And the following morning he
found them covered with rlme thanks to
iheir defence, tie tender BARK had been Sc
curen from all contact WIN the frost.
wha' purpose ior the summer sea,
son, TINS winter garment oil wool and
down Y he aga'h inquired And when the
summer season really Dreamed upon the
P'an'' ne iound ,ne new SHOOTS array 'nem-
selves IN their light spring clothing; the
downy vsstments' now superiiuous, being
iaid ASIDE.
storms may be still impendingH' cried
Chsrney, with bitter smile land how
Will these slender and iiexile shoots resist
the cutting hail, the driving wind r But
when the stormy rain arose and the winds
blew, the slender plant, yielding to their IN
temperance. replied TO the sneers Of the
Count by prudent prostitution. Against the
hail, it fortified itself by new man1uvre,
the leaves, rapidly uprising, adhered to the
stalks for protection; presenting TO the at
lacks Of the enemy the strong and promI.
nent nerves Of their inferior surface; and
union, as usual. produced strength. Firmly
closed together, they de6ed the pelting show
err, and the plant remained master of the
field not, however. without having expe-
rienced wounds aud Commissions, which, as
the leaves expanded in the returning sun
shine, were speedily cicauized by its con-
genial warmth.
SIS chance endowed then with intelli.
qence 2" cried Charney. "Must we admit
matter 10 be spiritualized. or humiliaie the
world of intelligence into materialismT r.
Sin though selcconyicted. he could not