Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-09-17
Life InnDron Of water.

Just read this, children-"Lhe in a Drop of
Water" Perhaps some Of you scarcely know that
there are animals so small as here described Speak.
ing Of drop of water, and describing the animals
which powerful microscope reveals, the writer
from whom quote, says:
"Clear aud transparent It lies before us-vsinly
our eye endeavors TO discover the least evidence
OF life, or the smallest creature ia that which il
Eeems in itself too small TO contain any living oh
ject-the breath Of our mo nth is strong enough TO
agitate it, aud few rays OF sun are sufficient TO
convert il into vapOr. But We place this drop be
tween two squares of clean glass, beneath the mi
croscOpe, and lo what life suddenly presents itself
we scarcely trust senses The little drop
OF water has expanded into a large pain-wonder.
full shapes rush backward and forward, dra wing
towards and repusing each other or resting pla-
oidly and rocking themselves, as if they were Graz
died on the waves Of an extensive sea. These are
no delusions-they are real living creatures-for
they play with each other they rush violently upon
one anOther-they whirl around each other-they
free and propel themselves, and run from one place
in order 10 renew the same game with some other
little creature madly they precipitate themselves
upon one another, combat aud struggle, till the one
cOnquers and other is subduei-or carelessly they
swim, side by side, until play lulness rapacty is
awakened anew. Que that these little crea>
lures, which the sharpest eve cannot detect
without the aid OF the microscope are susceptible
OF enjoyment and pain--in them lives an instinct
which induces them 20 seek, aud enables them 20
find sustenance, which points out and leads the N
TO avoid aud escape enemies Here one tumbles
about in mad career ard drunken lust Il stretches
out its feeders beats about with It's tail. tears its
fellows, aud is as frolicsome ~ II perfectly happy.
IL is gay, cheerful hops and dances, rocks aud
bends about upon the liitle waves OF the water
drop.
"Fhere is another creature, Il does not swim
about-remains upon the same spot-but contracts
itself aud papitatingly out again Who could de-
tect in these motions the throvs oagon! Aud il is
for only just now il has freed itself FROM the laws
of a stronger enemy The utmost power has Il
exertcd 10 get away, but be must lave had
strong hold, severely woundIug IL for only few
more throes, each becoming weaker and fainter,
it draws itself together, stretches out its whole
length once more, and sosly sinks 10 the bottom.
It death struggle-it has expired. On one
spot great creature lies entir,ly qlit and iudi
erent- smaller one passes cartlessly ~, aud like
q assh Of lightning, the first d4shes upon IT, Vain
~ does the weaker seek 10 escape it, more poN.
eriul enemy-he has already caught IL embraces
1.-THE thIoes Of the vanguished cease-it has
become prey. This Is ouly general glance az the
life IN a water drop. but how great does even this
alrea dy show the smalg How WoBdrously does eve-
rything shape itself within that Of which We had
Formerly not the least conception"