Page:Hardwicke's Science-Gossip - Volume 1.pdf/137

"Tom Tidler's ground" was the romantic El Dorado of our childhood, and even now, when inexorable Time is planting his crow's-foot on our brow, we cannot forget the stories or shake off the influences of the days of our innocency. Old or young, rich or poor, we have all our fairy land, whether in dreams or realities, and Tom Tidler's Ground is a domain trodden more or less by all. Some will skip over the plain with a merry heart and a smiling face, kicking all obstacles out of the way, or o'erleaping them; whilst others will be continually stumbling, tripping, knocking their shins, and suffering manifold discomfitures; but it matters not, the great aim is still kept in view—the object is still pursued,—

Wherever there is an earnest pursuit of some worldly business, a striving early and late to push their way in the world, to "make both ends meet," and ultimately to retire from the contest, and leave the battle-field of competition to younger and more active men, there is "Tom Tidler's ground." Wherever there is some "hobby" followed zealously, some occupation of leisure hours which absorbs the cares of life, and creates out of a barren waste a fairy land of order, harmony, and beauty, there is "Tom Tidler's ground." Wherever there is a family circle in which every member strives to advance the well-being of all, where petty jealousies are unknown, where love is the motive power, and happiness the aim of all, there is "Tom Tidler's ground." In fact, wherever as much of happiness can be attained as this world can furnish, that is "Tom Tidler's ground." And as for the "gold and silver" which children are apt to regard as the greatest good, as the highest reward, as the most superlative treasure in life, these are represented by different objects, according as the pursuer estimates the prize for which he constantly aims; and although some adhere tenaciously to the letter of the old legend, and seek veritable "gold and silver;" and though—

there are others who rate at a higher value than mere gold and silver that which elevates the mind, enlarges the heart, and leads the possessor "through nature up to nature's God."

As the bright sun is inviting all that love beauty to come abroad and warm themselves, and thaw away the last icicle of selfishness from their hearts, that they may gaze on the face of nature with sympathy and affection, we cannot resist the impulse once again to plead for the study of natural objects as a worthy—

Everywhere treasures are being laid open for the microscopist, and may be had for the trouble of stooping and picking up. In the woodland the early flowers are shedding their pollen, or their leaves are spotted with unmistakable evidences of the development of microscopic fungi. On the anemone, the pilewort, the sheep's sorrel, the nipplewort, the coltsfoot, the nettle, the sanicle, and the violet, cluster-cups are bursting through the cuticle, and expanding their fringed lips. On the leaves of the wild hyacinth, the dandelion, the common thistle, the mercury, the hog-weed, the wild strawberry, and many others, the golden or brown dust of Uredines appear in patches. Mosses display their fringed peristomes, and liverworts are green and glorious. Every drop of stagnant water quivers with life. Cyclops, volvox, and hydra, are well represented, with a host of kindred spirits which constitute the low-life of the animal world. Along the sea-shore, zoophytes and sea-weeds, in variety sufficient to employ the microscope for a month, may be gathered in a day. Moths and butterflies yield their curious antennæ and multiform scales; flies offer their eyes, tongues, and toes; spiders their legs and feet; bees and wasps their tongues and stings; and all the air, the earth, and the ocean are peopled with myriad forms, which only await the inquiring spirit