202 LIFE OF A TREE. 
hut the half-savage Britain slept also. In the 
forest, now and then a leaf left by Autumn on 
the topmost bough, snapped off and tumbled to 
the ground. And as the cold of night increased, 
a long-rotten branch broke also, and fell rust- 
ling down. Beside these, and the occasional 
whoop of the night-owl, all was still; and the 
great Yew-tree, with its countless leaflets, seemed 
as though itself were listening. What a scene 
was then taking place in the far distant East! 
There were in that country shepherds abiding 
in the field keeping watch over their flock by 
night. ‘‘ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came 
upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone 
round about them.—And the angel said unto 
them,—Unto you is born this day, in the city 
of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.— 
And suddenly there was with the angel a 
multitude of the heavenly host praising God, 
and saying, Glory to God in the Highest, and 
on earth peace, good will toward men.” Yes! 
the Braburn Yew-tree lived at the moment 
when the whispering of a “Saviour born” went 
round the earth, and filled the heaven with 
praise. 
