THE YOUTH OF THE TREE. 43 
CHAPTER II. 
THE YOUTH OF THE TREE. 
Tur morning of vegetable existence possesses 
peculiar beauties, in common, indeed, with the 
early dawn of life wherever it is found. Of 
many created things, however, a young plant is 
the most beautiful object we can select. The 
tender stalk just rearing itself into the elastic 
air, bending with every whisper of the wind, and 
glittering with such a freshness of lustrous green, 
that it almost looks as if the hand of Nature had 
been varnishing it over anew with every morn- 
ing’s light,—presents us with a work of Creation 
so fresh and fair that it cannot be equalled all 
through the world. The young leaves are tinted 
with that peculiarly delicate green, which makes 
Spring the sweetest season of the year. ‘They 
possess, too, such a downy and delightful softness 
