Ellsworth American., 1874-06-11
replaced In the jar, and for an hour wa.

: replaced in the jar, and for AN hour wa
! free.
; On my return. learned that Professo
Agassiz had been at the museum, but hae
; gone, and would not return for seyera
hours. My fellow students wers too busv
TO be disturbed by continued conversation
Slowly drew forth that hideous fish. and
with feeling of desperation, again looked
al 1t. might not use ma.nifying glass
instruments OF all kinds were interticted.
My two hands. my two eyes and the fish
1t seemed most limited feld. pushed
my finger down its throat to feel how
sharp the teeth we're. l began to count
the scales in the different rows, until was
convinced that that was nonsense. AT
iast happy thought struck mel would
draw the fish; and now, with surprise, /
began to discover new features In the
creature. Just then the professor return.
| ed.
That Is right" said he; "a pencil is
one OF the best Of eyes. l am glad to
notice. too, that you keep your specimens
| N yNua ooltic
with these encouraging words he ad.
ded
We'll, what Is 1t likee'
He listened attentiyely to my brief re-
hearsal Of the structure of parts who's.
names were still unknown to me; the
iringed gill-arches and movable opeculum;
the pores OF the head. fieshy lips, and lid.
less eyes the lateral lie, the spInous fins.
and forked tail the compressed and arch.
ed body. When had finished, he waited.
as II expecting more, and then, with an mir
OF disappointment,
"lo GU have not looked very carefully
why he continued, more earnestly. ..you
haven't even seen the most conspicuous
features of the animal, which is as plainly
before your eyes as the fish itself; look
again look again.. and he left me to nv
misery.
was pqued; was mortified. Stiu |
more OF that wretched hsh. But now | |
set myself 10 my task with n will. and dis |
covered one new thing after another, un 4
I'll saw how just the professors 5 criticism /
had been. The afternoon passed quickly.
and when, towards its close. the Professor
inquired.
DO you see 1t yet?"
No. replied; Il am certain do not,
but see how little | saw before"
That Is next best" said he, earnestly
put won't hear now put away your fish
ana go home; perhaps you will be ready
with a better answer In the morning:
vii! examine you before you look a, the
fish"
This was dsconcertng; not ONLY must
thihk of my fish all night, studying, with.
out the object before me, what this un.
known but most visible feature might be
but also, without reviewing my new dis
coveries, must give an exact account ot
them the net day / had bad memory.
ties.
The cordial greeting Of the professor the
next morning, was reassuring here was
man who seemed to be quite as anxious as
1,that should see for myself what he saw.
do you perhaps, mean,' asked that
the fish has symmetrical sides with paired
organs e
His thoroughly pleased "Of course, OF
course," repaid the wakeful hours of the
previous night. After he had discoursed
most happily and enthusiastically he
always did = upon the Importance of
this point, ventured TO ask what should
do next.
"Oh, look at your ~ he said. and
left me again to my own devices. In lit
tie more than an hour he returned and
heard my new catalogue.
That is good, that Is good!" he repeat
ed; but that is not all go y and so
for three long days he placed that fish
before my eyes, forbidding me to look at
any thing else, or to use any artificial aid.
Look look. look" was his repeated in
junction.
This was the best chronological lesson |
ever had-a lesson whose influence has ex-
tended to the details of every subsequent |
study; legacy the professor has left to
me, as he has left it to many others, OF in
estimable value, which we could not buy, |
with which we cannot part.-By Former |
Pupil In Erery Saturday.