Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-12-08

TALKS OF THE LrcHESs-Fsr up the side
of the mountain the naked rock shot up
still higher 1t seemed very high as you
looked upward The rock was even on it's
face and was full perpendicular. On its
surface were four kinds OF lchens growing
from that whose Leaf was very small, TO the
last, which was quite coarse and large. We
sometimes see such lichens on an old fence,
All old tree or an old house. The face of the
huge rock was almost covered with them.
As sat down under the shadow of the
mountain, waiting for my friend, | gazed at
the lichens, and began to wonder in my own
mind what il was created for, and OF what
use it could be. when seemed to hear
small, crispy voice, far up the rock, calling
out Mother, how old am [? why, my
child, you have just begun to live. You are
only eighty years old yct?' And how old
are you p i call myself young, for l am
only FIVE hundred and twenty years old
| now listened with all nv ears, for knew
the lichens were talking among themselves.
| felt sure they would say more, and | took
out my pencil to put down what they would
say. Pretty soon heard the same little
voice say Mother, amt you discouraged ?
Discouraged? At what, pray?' At your
size. Five hundred and twenty years old.
and how very small you are Not so
small, either cover six inches square al
ready, while there's my poor grandmother,
almost 100 years old, and she covers only
/ five inches, even now. Very few, am hap
/ ~ to say, of the lichen family. who have
worked harder or accomplished more than
have, though do say 1t myself Well,
mother, Of what use is it TO cling TO TIN:
great rock, and hang here summer and win
ter, amid storms and cold, and winds beat
ing upon US? Here have chung and beer
irving 10 gnaw into this rock for eighty
years, and have not yet got my roots in hal
an inch What's the use We might a
well die and drop off Nobody would mis-
US or care. What do We live for? II
raise wheat. Raise what?' Raise wheat
to be sure Pray, mother, what do YOU
mean? We lichens away up here, on thu
cold rock, raise wheat? If that isn't funny,
Listen, my child This huge mountain i
all of solid rock II it was all pounded u
fine. it would make soil on which mel
would raise wheat But 1t is now very hard
and there is nothing to pound and turn
into powder. And 81 God has created us
the lichens, to have our home here. to elm
to it, to gnaw it, and with kind of acid "
have, to crumble and dissolve it, Don't yO
remember that the very last year, you role
down two little grains from the rock? Well
every grain we make tails down then th
rains wash 1t into the little brook, and IN
brook carries il into the river. and the rive
raises 1t up, and as it overhOws its bank
drops it just where the old soil is worn gu
and the wheat needs new. The Nile thu
carries down little particles from the mour
tains. and makes Egypt So fruitful Oh
mother how often can | gnaw of roe
enough TO raise kernel of wheatp Pei
maps once in thirty years. Oh. what slO'
work When will what you dig Oh
this year raise wheatY Perhaps five hun
dred years hence God sees that there vi
be old men and little children upon cart
then, and they will want bread; and 50 h
has created us and placsd US here TO prepar
soil, and get this rock ready TO r. Use whea
Thus ne goes before ana provides and max,
even the poor little iicneps useful; and
We do our duty, his emile Will cheer Us an
though we can do but little, a very httl,
vet mat will do good 70 somebody
The lichens stopped taking, but did No
stop thinking What would my young read
er have thought had he Oeen there Sun
. day School Inns