Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-09-10
WHAT THE WORLD WAS MADE FOR.
BY HELEN NJ. MASON.

Ifyou have studied nature well:
What hath it Of design and plan,
This world so well prepared for man?
IT'S written, ASK the beasts to
teach"
What sermon have We heard them
preach?
What lesson do the fowls of air,
The fishes of the sea declare?
Sarah--1n quest of flowers and fragrant
herbs.
And freedom from my nouns and
verbs.
I'd wandered farther than | knew:
And when at last weary grew,
And asked in discontinued phrase,
"Why all these steep and devious
ways?
Why are the fairest berries hung
Beyond my reach, the crags among?
And when pretty blue-bell's seen
Why must there be brook between?"
AS thus / questioned with myself,
Far out upon a rocky shelf,
Two horned and bearded quadrupeds
Quite unconcernedly raised their
heads
And plucked the fragrant mint and
thyme,
Where | had vainly tried to climb.
In answer to my question, why"
Methought they sent me this reply;
'Baa." and they shook their shaggy
coats,
"Because the world was made for
goats"
Helen-Down in the clover-field l
played,
And OF the flowers a nOsegay made:
l stopped to pluck one blossom more,
A hOney-bee was there before:
He quickly babe me stay my hand,
And in tone of harsh command
Exclaimed. "Step back, child, IF YOU
please?
You know the world was made for
bees"
Remembering that the wise
man said,
''Go to the ant to her | sped.
| asked her of the chambered dome.
The corridors within her home:
| asked her how the rain and sun
Such cunning helpers had become,
That with their aid the structure
made
Nor sun nor rain could spoil again.
An act as | have often heard,
May answer palmer than a word.
In gesture said the tiny thing,
Il have no time for gossiping:
The little ones are to be fed:
! hasten home to carry bread.
Another followed in the train.
My query while piled again,
And sought reply, her figure slight
Within the earth was lost to sight.
| laid my ear upon the ground,
That | might catch the slightest
sound.
Fainter than fairy tones was said
What thus my thought interpreted:
Lad, heaven has given to us the will
And power to use its gifts, and still
That earth. air, water, seek no rest.
But ever wait on our behest.
| can't explain the circumstance.
Unless the world was made for ants. :"
Emily My tutor wears heavy shell:
His strength so great, as many tell,
That he can carry very well
His weight by twenty multiplied
In winter season given to hide
Deep in the earth a stream beside.
But ere the summer sun is high.
He wanders forth, his food to spy:
On dandelion casts his eye.
And feasts: endive, green peas and
leeks,
Soon for his table he bespeaks.
OF juicy berries sucks the sweets.
The reptile for season brief.
Lest from the heat he come to grief,
Now sits beneath a cabbage leaf.
While generations come and 90
young at 100 years, you know
He lives, and little fears a foe.
What wonder that the creature
thinks.
AS peacefully he sits and winks,
Munching his favorite hortuses.
The world was made for tortoises!
Parker-For me, because my mood was
sad,
Nor field nor brook allurement had:
So from "A shelf a favorite book
To while weary hour, | took.
| must have slept, for. staid and sage
An elephant from out the page
Stepped forth, and in an accent hoarse.
Babe me attend to his discourse.
II represent race" he said.
"That's peaceabe and quiet bred.
Deep in the iungles we abide
Sufficient there the food supplied:
But often from the forests ycruc