And yet he can plough and sow, and reap and mow, and fell and strip, and hedge and ditch, and give his neighbours sound advice, and take the measure of a man's worth from ten minutes' talk, and say his prayers, and keep his temper, and pay his debts,--which last three things are more than a good many folks can do who fancy themselves a whole world wiser than John in the smock-frock.
Oh, but I want to hear about the exquisite shapes and glorious colours.
Of course you do, little man.

A few fine epithets take your fancy far more than a little common sense and common humility; but in that you are no worse than some of your elders.

So now for the exquisite shapes and glorious colours.

I have never seen them; though I trust to see them ere I die.

So what they are like I can only tell from what I have learnt from Mr.Darwin, and Mr.Wallace, and Mr.Jukes, and Mr.Gosse, and last, but not least, from one whose soul was as beautiful as his face, Lucas Barrett,--too soon lost to science,--who was drowned in exploring such a coral-reef as this stone was once.
Then there are such things alive now?
Yes, and no.