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Glaucus/or The Wonders of the Shore
These and much more you will find on the scallops； or even more
plentifully on any lump of ancient oysters； and if you do not dredge； it
would be well worth your while to make interest with the fish…monger
for a few oyster lumps； put into water the moment they are taken out of
the trawl。 Divide them carefully； clear out the oysters with a knife； and
put the shells into your aquarium； and you will find that an oyster at
home is a very different thing from an oyster on a stall。
You ought； besides； to dredge many handsome species of shells；
which you would never pick up along the beach； and if you are
conchologizing in earnest； you must not forget to bring home a tin box
of shell sand； to be washed and picked over in a dish at your leisure； or
forget either to wash through a fine sieve； over the boat's side； any
sludge and ooze which the dredge brings up。 Many … I may say；
hundreds … rare and new shells are found in this way； and in no other。
But if you cannot afford the expense of your own dredge and boat；
and the time and trouble necessary to follow the occupation
scientifically； yet every trawler and oyster…boat will afford you a
tolerable satisfaction。 Go on board one of these； and while the trawl is
down； spend a pleasant hour or two in talking with the simple； honest；
sturdy fellows who work it； from whom （if you are as fortunate as I have
been for many a year past） you may get many a moving story of danger
and sorrow； as well as many a shrewd practical maxim； and often； too； a
living recognition of God； and the providence of God； which will send
you home； perhaps； a wiser and more genial man。 And when the trawl
is hauled； wait till the fish are counted out； and packed away； and then
kneel down and inspect （in a pair of Mackintosh leggings； and your
oldest coat） the crawling heap of shells and zoophytes which remains
behind about the decks； and you will find； if a landsman； enough to
occupy you for a week to come。 Nay； even if it be too calm for
trawling； condescend to go out in a dingy； and help to haul some honest
fellow's deep…sea lines and lobster…pots； and you will find more and
stranger things about them than even fish or lobsters： though they； to
him who has eyes to see； are strange enough。
I speak from experience； for it was not so very long ago that； in the
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north of Devon； I found sermons； not indeed in stones； but in a creature
reputed among the most worthless of sea…vermin。 I had been lounging
about all the morning on the little pier； waiting； with the rest of the
village； for a trawling breeze which would not come。 Two o'clock was
past； and still the red mainsails of the skiffs hung motionless； and their
images quivered head downwards in the glassy swell；
〃As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean。〃
It was neap…tide； too； and therefore nothing could be done among
the rocks。 So； in despair； finding an old coast…guard friend starting for
his lobster…pots； I determined to save the old man's arms； by rowing him
up the shore； and then paddled homeward again； under the high green
northern wall； five hundred feet of cliff furred to the water's edge with
rich oak woods； against whose base the smooth Atlantic swell died
whispering； as if curling itself up to sleep at last within that sheltered
nook； tired with its weary wanderings。 The sun sank lower and lower
behind the deer…park point； the white stair of houses up the glen was
wrapped every moment deeper and deeper in hazy smoke and shade； as
the light faded； the evening fires were lighted one by one； the soft
murmur of the waterfall； and the pleasant laugh of children； and the
splash of homeward oars； came clearer and clearer to the ear at every
stroke： and as we rowed on； arose the recollection of many a brave and
wise friend； whose lot was cast in no such western paradise； but rather in
the infernos of this sinful earth； toiling even then amid the festering
alleys of Bermondsey and Bethnal Green； to palliate death and misery
which they had vainly laboured to prevent； watching the strides of that
very cholera which they had been striving for years to ward off； now re…
admitted in spite of all their warnings； by the carelessness； and laziness；
and greed of sinful man。 And as I thought over the whole hapless
question of sanitary reform； proved long since a moral duty to God and
man； possible； easy； even pecuniarily profitable； and yet left undone；
there seemed a sublime irony； most humbling to man； in some of
Nature's processes； and in the silent and unobtrusive perfection with
which she has been taught to anticipate； since the foundation of the
world； some of the loftiest discoveries of modern science； of which we
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are too apt to boast as if we had created the method by discovering its
possibility。 Created it？ Alas for the pride of human genius； and the
autotheism which would make man the measure of all things； and the
centre of the universe！ All the invaluable laws and methods of sanitary
reform at best are but clumsy imitations of the unseen wonders which
every animalcule and leaf have been working since the world's
foundation； with this slight difference between them and us； that they
fulfil their appointed task； and we do not。
The sickly geranium which spreads its blanched leaves against the
cellar panes； and peers up； as if imploringly； to the narrow slip of
sunlight at the top of the narrow alley； had it a voice； could tell more
truly than ever a doctor in the town； why little Bessy sickened of the
scarlatina； and little Johnny of the hooping…cough； till the toddling wee
things who used to pet and water it were carried off each and all of them
one by one to the churchyard sleep； while the father and mother sat at
home； trying to supply by gin that very vital energy which fresh air and
pure water； and the balmy bre