"I think if there had been any beavers in the land of Israel in Solomon's
time, that the wise king who spake of ants, spiders, grasshoppers, and
conies, [Footnote: The rock rabbits of Judea.] would have named the
beavers also, as patterns of gentleness, cleanliness, and industry. They
work together in bands, and live in families, and never fight or disagree.
They have no chief or leader; they seem to have neither king nor ruler;
yet they work in perfect love and harmony. How pleasant it would be, Lady
Mary, if all Christian people would love each other as these poor beavers
seem to do."
"Nurse, how can beavers cut down trees; they have neither axes nor saws?"
"Here, Lady Mary, are the axes and saws with which God has provided these
little creatures;" and Mrs. Frazer showed Lady Mary two long curved tusks,
of a reddish-brown colour, which she told her were the tools used by the
beavers to cut and gnaw the trees; she said she had seen trees as thick as
a man's leg that had been felled by these simple tools.
Lady Mary was much surprised that such small animals could cut through
anything so thick.
"In nature," replied her nurse, "we often see great things done by very
small means. Patience and perseverance work well.
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