Why
couldn't thee try? I would be very willing to teach thee what
little I know. It's not much, indeed, but all thee wants is a
start. See, I will show thee how simple the principles are."
Taking one of the flowers from the bunch, Asenath, as they slowly
walked forward, proceeded to dissect it, explained the mysteries of
stamens and pistils, pollen, petals, and calyx, and, by the time
they had reached the village, had succeeded in giving him a general
idea of the Linnaean system of classification. His mind took hold
of the subject with a prompt and profound interest. It was a new
and wonderful world which suddenly opened before him. How
surprised he was to learn that there were signs by which a
poisonous herb could be detected from a wholesome one, that cedars
and pine-trees blossomed, that the gray lichens on the rocks
belonged to the vegetable kingdom! His respect for Asenath's
knowledge thrust quite out of sight the restraint which her youth
and sex had imposed upon him. She was teacher, equal, friend;
and the simple candid manner which was the natural expression of
her dignity and purity thoroughly harmonized with this relation.
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