WEEPING WILLOW. 207 



THE WEEPING WILLOW. 



By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, when we re- 

 membered thee, O Sion ! As for our harps we hanged them up 

 upon the willows that are therein. psalms. 



We cannot conceive a more touching appeal to human 

 sympathy, than the mournful complaints of the daughters 

 of Jerusalem. Their Babylonish conquerors having led 

 them away captive, required of them " a song, and melody 

 in their heaviness ; ' Sing us one of the songs of Sion.' " 

 But the hearts of her children were surcharged with grief, 

 and they asked, " How shall we sing the Lord's song in 

 a strange land ?" They were oppressed with sorrow, — 

 they were bowed down with affliction, — they " hanged 

 their harps upon the willows, and sat down and wept." 

 Is not then the weeping willow a sacred emblem of mel- 

 ancholy 1 



The weeping willow is a native of the east, and is greatly 

 admired for its drooping pendulous branches, waving over 

 our lakes and streams. 



It grows wild on the coast of Persia, and is common 

 in China. The celebrated specimen in Pope's garden at 

 Twickenham, is said to have been the first introduced into 

 England ; but this we believe to be erroneous. The poet 

 chanced to be present on the opening of a package which 

 came from Spain, and observing that the sticks had some 

 vegetation, fancied they might produce something which 

 did not usually grow in England. With this idea he planted 



