1856.] Tlie Raining Tree. ^ 363 



war, while by charities, insignificant in comparison, doles to the heathen 

 the message of peace. At home it breeds and fattens a cloud of eagles 

 and vultures, trained to swoop upon the land; to all the Gentiles across 

 the sea it dismisses a solitary dove. 



Still further : every man-of war that floats costs more than a well 

 endowed college. 



Every sloop-of-war that floats costs more than the largest public 

 library in the country. ^ ^ ^ -^ ^ 



Consider the prodigious sums, exceeding in all two thousand millions 

 of dollars, squandered by the United States since the adoption of the 

 Federal Constitution, in support of the war system. Surely if these 

 means had been devoted to railroads and canals, to schools and colleges, 

 our country would possess, at the present moment, an accumulated 

 material power grander far than any she now boasts. But there is 

 another power of more unfailing temper, which would also be hers. 

 Overflowing with intelligence, with charity, with civilization, with all 

 that constitutes a generous State, she would be able to win peaceful 

 triumphs transcending all she has yet achieved — surrounding the land 

 with an invincible self- defensive might, and in their unfading brightness 

 rendering all glory from war impossible. 



The Island of Fiera is one of the most considerable of the Canaries, 

 and I consider that name to be given upon this account : that its soil, 

 not affording so much as a drop of fresh water, seems to be of iron : 

 and indeed there is in this island neither rivulet, nor well, nor spring, 

 save that only toward the sea-side there are some wells; but they lie 

 at such a distance from the city, that the inhabitants can make no use 

 thereof. But the great Preserver and Sustainer of all, remedies this 

 inconvenience by a way so extraordinary, that a man will be forced to 

 sit down and acknowledge that he gives, in this, undeniable demon- 

 stration of his goodness and infinite providence. For in the midst 

 there is a tree, which is the only one of the kind, insomuch that it 

 hath no resemblance to these mentioned by us in this relation, nor to 

 any other known to us in Europe. The leaves of it are long and 

 narrow, and continue in constant verdure, winter . and summer ; and 

 its branches are covered with a cloud, which is never dispelled, but, 



