Year: 1878

rising appears, which soon forms itself
into mouth and feelers, or arms which


st once begin TO wsrk. The arms seize


everything they can get hold of (for


they are neither scrupulous nor dainty J


and push it through the open mouth into


the stomach. Then the little creature


begins its G.e-work, which is the manu-


tacture of the lovely coral from which 50


many fine ornaments are made.


Naturalists used to suppose that the
coral was the polyp's house but they
have discovered that it is the skeleton OF
the animal (really part of its BODY as
our bones are part of our bodies. Only
the polyp's skeleton is outside of its
body instead of being ;uside like ours.


The skeleton Is made of the same
substance ss chalk, or limestone, mixed
with a little phosphorus. There are
myriads of minute creatures, in the sea,
whose bodies contain 4 good deal OF
ARhasDhaEnsee e w. q feedAQR sQfaeof
these and 50 takes in phosphorus, which,
in way mysterious to US, is mixed with
the chalk, which it also gets with its
food from the sea and converts it into
coral.


If the polyp has any motto to inspire
it, it must be excelsior" for il is an
aspiring little being, continually aiming
to greater heights, toward the light. 1t
works only in tropical seas and never so
far down in the water as TO get into the
cold currents of the deep sea. There are
high rocks, rising from the bottom of the
ocean, which have been thrown up by
volcanic forces. On these the polyp
fastens itself and builds higher and
higher, constantly making for itself
new skeleton on the ruins of sn old one,
which dies and haTdens when the live
polyp deserts it.


This is the way great coral islands are
formed, little By little, by the constant
aud persevering industry of myriads of
these tiny creatures. There are several
kinds of coral, of various forms, and of
different colors, white, red and pink.


1t is very interesting to watch the
coral makers at their work. Sometimes
they are at rest. Then myrisds of tiny
thread-Iike feelers or arms may be seen
spread out of loveliest forms and the
most brilliant colors, looking like exgui-
sitely beautiful flowers beneath the clear
water. But, generally, the tentacles are
in motion The polyp requires good
deal of material for its work, and as it
can get it only by eating, and as it uses
it up as fast as it gets it, of course, the
little thing is always hungry and greedy.


Their greediness serves another pur-
pose, however, beside corsl-making.
There is always in the sea great deal of
dead decaying matter which would
make the water very impure if not dis
posed Of As the Polyp is not at all
fsstidious in its choice of food, it devOurs
a
through its simple digestive apparatus,
converts it into the useful curious and
beautiful coral Thus they sekvepwftn
the lobster and some other creatures as
scavengers of the sea. How wonderful
is the economy of Nature. In her vast
workshop nothing is wasted. Even the
most unsightly and impure matter is
made over into new forms and colors of |
marvellous beauty and use,


The coral-makiDg polyp used to be
considered a submarine plant, because /
its lovely forms and bright colors re-
semble flowers 80 much. Later, it was
to be both animal and vegeta-
bic. But still more recent investiga-
tionshave decided Daturalists to class it
among the simplest forms of animal life.


No cresture that God has made is too
small or humble re teach proud man
some lesson. One of the lessons the
little polyp teaches us is, the value of
industry; and another is
this, that it is our duty to contribute
cheerfulIy each our part Ii only mite
to the general good of the family snd
in which our Maker has
placed us.


We have seen on what simple plan
this minute animal, with nothing but a
stomach, mouth and arms is made.
Yet, what more does it need fer the life
it leads, and the uses it performs?
Simple as it is, like all of the Creators
work, it is wonderful and perfect of its
Kind. Everything has been given it
necessary for its happiness and good in
The place it fills. Thus, even the least
1f the Almighty's creatures show forth
His infinite goodness, wisdom and love.
-LOlive Raymond, in Lutheran OBJ