. The first [-fifth] reader of the school and family series. ng broad patches ofvarious colors, some being of a bluish gray, and others of therichest golden yellow; some spread upon the ground—andthese have usually a much larger growth ; some, again, hangfrom the branches of venerable trees, Avhich they clothe witha shaggy beard of gray; and others shoot up from the barrenheath, gray and deformed, but eventually fashioning them-selves into tiny goblets, the borders of which are studded witlicrimson shields. 4. Perhaps the most beautiful of all, as well as the mostcommon, are the wall Uchens, s
. The first [-fifth] reader of the school and family series. ng broad patches ofvarious colors, some being of a bluish gray, and others of therichest golden yellow; some spread upon the ground—andthese have usually a much larger growth ; some, again, hangfrom the branches of venerable trees, Avhich they clothe witha shaggy beard of gray; and others shoot up from the barrenheath, gray and deformed, but eventually fashioning them-selves into tiny goblets, the borders of which are studded witlicrimson shields. 4. Perhaps the most beautiful of all, as well as the mostcommon, are the wall Uchens, some of which spread out like wrinkled leaflets, while other va-rieties assume a beautiful circu-lar form, resembling in outlineand shape the fairest rose; andof these it has been said, withquaint but truthful words, Careless of thy dost show thy pleasant faceOn the moor and in the the lane—there is no place,Howsoever mean it tis good enouiih for thee. And, in reaUty, there are but fewsurfaces long exposed to wind ?*?^. 204 WILLSON 85 FIFTH READEK. Fakt IV. and weather wliicli are not soon protected by the warnicover of these Hchens. Our roofs aud our fences, the trunkof a tree, and tlie rock in the moors, the earth-capped dike,and the sterile sea-bank—in fact, all places but sparingly sup-plied with moisture, yet freely exposed to air and light, areclad in ever-vaiying colors by these beautiful children of Xa-ture. The far-famed Cathedral of Munster may be truly saidto be gilded by these tiny lichens. 5. Hardy plants and long-lived are they. Many of themlove to live upon a soil little adapted to retain moisture ; andof these it has been said that, Like the lazaroni^ of Naples,they will not work even to live. Carelessly and listlesslythey lie in the bright sunshine, and implore Avith Stoic pa-tience, by their miserable appearance, the pity of jjassingclouds. In these times of want and drought* they shrinkand shrivel until nothing seems fart
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1860
