“O father,” said Lucy, “we can’t study the windows.”
“O, yes,” replied her father, “there is a great deal to be learned about windows. Look at one of the windows, and tell me what you observe.”
So Lucy looked at the window a moment, and then said,—
“No, father, I don’t observe any thing about the windows at all.”
“I observe several things that are peculiar.”
“What do you mean by peculiar, father?” asked Lucy.
“Why, whatever one thing has, which other things do not have, is peculiar to it. Thus roots are peculiar to plants, for other things do not have roots. Now, look at the window, and see if you find any thing peculiar in it.”
“No, sir,” said Lucy; “I think it is just like all other windows.”
“But I didn’t wish you to find any thing peculiar to this window alone, which distinguishes it from other windows, but something peculiar to all windows, which distinguish them from the other parts of a building. I notice one thing which is very peculiar.”
“What is it?” said Lucy.