THE MICROSCOPE.



THE microscope is a wonderful little instrument, and is used for many purposes. 

There are two kinds of microscopes, simple and compound. By the aid of the compound microscope of the present day we have become acquainted with myriads of little wonders, of which people who lived in ancient times knew little or nothing.

The most powerful microscopes magnify about two thousand times. Lewenboeck says that "there is an insect to be seen through the microscope of which 27,000,000 would only equal a "mite," and that the cavities of a single grain of sand, contain insects of various kinds. Even mold, under a microscope, appears like a beautiful forest of trees, and butterflies seem to possess feathers like birds.

The surface of the human body appears to be covered with scales so minute that one hundred and fifty could be covered by a grain of sand; and yet one of these scales covers five hundred pores through which sweat oozes in little drops.

The leaves of trees have little insects feeding upon them like cows on a meadow. Hairs appear like hollow tubes, about six inches in diameter. A grain of sand appears like a rock, and a cambric needle looks like a post. A single drop of stagnant water is filled with numerous creatures, which swim about with as much freedom, and seem as much at home, as fish in the sea.

Who would think that the body of a mosquito was covered with perfectly formed feathers? But so it is. Indeed, we might enumerate almost a countless number of objects, which it would be interesting and instructive to examine.

Among other curiosities, which the microscope has produced are microphotographs mounted on glass slides. Among these is the Lord's prayer, containing 268 perfect letters, with chapter and verse, all condensed within a space half as large as a pin's head. In order that you may better understand how extremely small these photographs appear to the naked eye, we enclose, between these brackets [.], a little dot about the size of one of the wonderful microscopic views; but when brought in focus under the lens, each letter is perfectly distinct, and about half as large as the letters now before you.

Children, save your pennies which you spend for useless toys, purchase one of these instruments, learn how to use it that you may thus become acquainted with the wonderful works of God. The mind is filled with reverence and wonder at the skill of Him who made the little creatures that sport unseen in the dust at our feet, as well as the great elephant that wanders in the jungles of Asia and the forests of Africa. 

As we behold the wonders and beauties revealed by the microscope, we can but exclaim with the psalmist, "O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all."



C. N. STUTTLE.