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Overreaching tyranny; the temper which fawns, and clings, and plays
the parasite as long as it is down, and when it has risen, fattens
on its patron's blood and life--these, and the other works of the
flesh, are the works of average plants and animals, as far as they
can practise them. At least, so says at first sight the science of
bio-geology; till the naturalist, if he be also human and humane, is
glad to escape from the confusion and darkness of the universal
battle-field of selfishness into the order and light of Christmas-
tide.
For then there comes to him the thought--And are these all the
facts? And is this all which the facts mean? That mutual
competition is one law of Nature, we see too plainly. But is there
not, besides that law, a law of mutual help? True it is, as the
wise man has said, that the very hyssop on the wall grows there
because all the forces of the universe could not prevent its
growing. All honour to the hyssop. A brave plant, it has fought a
brave fight, and has its just deserts--as everything in Nature has--
and so has won. But did all the powers of the universe combine to
prevent it growing? Is not that a one-sided statement of facts?
Did not all the powers of the universe also combine to make it grow,
if only it had valour and worth wherewith to grow? Did not the
rains feed it, the very mortar in the wall give lime to its roots?
Were not electricity, gravitation, and I know not what of chemical
and mechanical forces, busy about the little plant, and every cell
of it, kindly and patiently ready to help it if it would only help
itself? Surely this is true; true of every organic thing, animal
and vegetable, and mineral too, for aught I know: and so we must
soften our sadness at the sight of the universal mutual war by the
sight of an equally universal mutual help.
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