Wben Grass 10 Green 



nal grandeur that was convertible into cash, ex- 

 cepting, of course, the oaks in the meeting-house 

 yards, and those owe their existence to the fact 

 that they were almost if not quite a necessity. But 

 it is scarcely worth the while to scold about our 

 predecessors, when we are doing so little to pre- 

 serve what remains of our forests. But this, my 

 little woods, near by it contains good examples 

 of nine species of deciduous trees and four ever- 

 greens. All are fairly thrifty, and yet one, the sour 

 gum, has a grievous burden to bear, in the unsight- 

 ly misletoe that crowds its outer branches. What 

 a strange freak is this ! A thrifty growth of itself, 

 it is unfitted for any condition but that of a para- 

 site, and must have the life-blood of another to 

 sustain its own existence. We associate in litera- 

 ture the misletoe and the oak, but here, except oc- 

 casionally, on an apple tree, I find it only on the 

 tupelo or sour gum. Why this preference, is a 

 problem past finding out. 



At all times of the year, it is pleasant to be 

 among trees, whether few or many. It is such an 

 absolute change from the open country. The first 

 impression we get upon entering a forest is that of 

 its silence. The effect may be depressing at first, 

 but this quickly gives way to wonderment. The 

 moment we ask ourselves the reason of any condi- 

 tion we meet, we have taken the first step toward 

 rational enjoyment. Curiosity, that leads us into 

 many a scrape in town, is an excellent companion 

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