The mastodon and his associates disappeared, and sheep, horses, and dogs, and the bovine animals,--the animals that especially contribute to the comfort and service of man,--became numerous. On the surface of the earth streams and rivers did their work, and arable land was ready for coming harvests. The Ice age had been a bitter winter time; it was followed by a spring. Centuries stormy as March, and changeful as April, and soft as May, followed each other, bringing the earth-building epochs to a close, and putting on the globe the finishing touches to fit it for the home of humanity. Now at last were seen the cereals, the corn-food of man, the stately and golden maize, the silver wheat, the bearded barley. With these came the gourd and lupine families, bringing us all manner of melons, cucumbers, pumpkins, peas, lentiles, and beans. The hosts of the apple order of fruits were marshalled in array; the peach, plum, cherry, apple, pear. The vine and the olive covered the slopes; earth was now a rich and splendid kingdom waiting for its destined king. The king came, and flora and fauna were at his service; his name was MAN. FOOTNOTES: [14] Nature Reader, No. 3, p. 23. [15] Nature Reader, No. 2. LESSON VI. THE STARRY HEAVENS. “Sit, Jessica: Look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold; There’s not the smallest orb, which thou beholdest, But in his motion like an angel sings, Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubim.” --_Merchant of Venice_, Act 5. The kitten plays with its tail, the lamb nibbles the grass, the chick scratches on the ground for a living, and none of them feel any curiosity about the reason of things around them. But the smallest child begins to ask questions, especially about the natural objects that surround it. It is not satisfied with having water to drink; it wants to know from whence water comes. Fruit is good, but how do fruits grow? No doubt the first human beings felt this same curiosity, or rather desire for knowledge, the food of the mind. As soon as there was a man to observe natural objects, what they were, and how they came to be, were questions that early presented themselves to his attention, and afforded theme for the first legends and fables.