FOREST TREES. 183 



special notice of the lover of forest trees. One in particular, a grand, 

 lofty, spreading tree, near the Orphan's Home. 



A tree of such perfect symmetry of outline that it could hardly fail 

 to strike the eye of the beholder with admiration. It was probably a 

 vigorous tree in its meridian beauty before the first log-house was raised 

 upon the site of Little York. Now the first city in Western Canada. 



What tales could that mute witness tell of toil and privation, among 

 the hardy adventurous few that cleared the forest land on which this 

 now solitary giant of the lonely wilderness stands. What strife, political 

 and physical, has it beheld. 



Beneath its leafy canopy the Red man reared his wigwam, or the 

 early missionary from far off France held up the Cross and preached 

 the word to the listening stolid Indian. It may be that the seed fell 

 upon the rock and brought forth no increase. 



The Indian treads the busy streets, where once the Deer stole forth 

 from its leafy covert in the dense Cedar swamp, where now stands the 

 lofty church or busy mart. That lofty tree alone remains a memorial 

 of the Indian's hunting grounds, and he himself stalks along those 

 crowded streets the shadow of a dying race. 



How many over-wrought minds and toil-worn bodies have sunk 

 into dust ; while still serenely grand and majestic, untouched by decay, 

 the noble tree stands a good Watchman at his post, looking over the 

 rising city ; and still may it stand through storm, and wind, and heat, 

 and cold, a more glorious object than all those stately buildings over 

 which it casts its evening shadow. 



Blue Beech — American Hornbeam — Carpinus Americana, (Michx.) 



This tree, commonly known to the backwoodsmen as Blue Beech, 

 is also termed Ironwood by some writers, though it differs greatly in 

 appearance from the Hop Hornbeam or Ironwood proper. The bark 

 is smoother, more like that of the common Beech ; the wood is whiter 

 and can easily be divided into long slips, and is much used by the 

 settlers and Indians in the manufacture of axe handles and common 

 brooms : these are made by boys, of an evening by the fireside, and in 

 weather that prevents them from out-door work. A clasp-knife and a 

 straight stick of Blue Beech is all the stock in trade, required for the 

 producing of one of these homely useful articles. To effect this the bark 

 is removed and long strips are cnt from the wood and drawn down to within 

 a few inches of the end of the stick ; these are then turned over, bound and 

 trimmed even at the ends, and the shanty broom is made, supplying at 

 the cost of an hour or two's labour, a good serviceable substitute for a 



