Persimmons. 287 



gregate here when not feeding near by; tree- 

 sparrows gather there and chatter so vehemently, 

 some important matter must be discussed; and 

 well I remember the overstaying warblers that 

 late in November I saw darting over the twigs, 

 hoping their brethren had left a few insects in the 

 crannies of the wrinkled bark. Here, too, as in 

 all lone, way-side persimmon-trees, the sparrow- 

 hawk takes his stand and surveys the grassy 

 haunts and run-ways of field-mice. And as, in 

 midsummer, the " water-pits," with their abundant 

 attractions of curious animal life, often held me 

 throughout the day, here the persimmon-tree 

 again became a prominent feature, because of the 

 shade it threw over and about me. 



Although no strange adventure or narrow es- 

 cape is associated with this tree, and no ugly 

 trick upon strangers, offering them green fruit, 

 pricks me when I gather the frost- ripened harvest, 

 it is a growth of our woodlands that stands promi- 

 nently forth as I recall days gone by, and what 

 greater merit has any tree or product thereof than 

 the power to withdraw the curtain that conceals 

 those days of other years which we fancy were 



