Indian naticr^ slid they held the Tree of Peace in deep regard. Those 

 Indians living oh the east shore of the Hudson told Governor Belle- 

 mont, of New York, about the event as follows: "It is now six and 

 twenty years since we were almost dead when we left New England 

 and were first received into this government; then it was that a tree 

 was planted at Shakkook, whose branches is spread so that there is a 

 comfortable shade under the leaves of it; we are unanimously resolved 

 to live and die under the shadow of that Tree, and pray our Father to 

 nourish and have a favorable aspect towards that Tree, for you need 

 not apprehend that tho* any of our people go out a hunting, they 

 will look out for another country, since they like that place called 

 Shakkook so well." 



Having promised a Council Tree to the Mohawk Scouts also, 

 Governor Andros planted it, probably in 1676, on the shore of the 

 Tomhamac River, but it did not fare as well as the Wi-ten-a-ge-mot 

 Oak, being injured by lightning. "Our neighbors, the Mohawks, 

 have not been so fortunate," said Soquon to the Governor, "for their 

 tree burnt. We have been so happy and fortunate that our number 

 is increased to that degree that we cannot all be shaded by one tree, 

 and, therefore, desire that another tree besides that at Schagticoke 

 may be planted for us." 



The Wi-ten-a-ge-mot Oak is now in its third century of life, its 

 circumference measures twenty-two feet, and its shade covers an acre. 

 But it shows unmistakable signs of decay, and unless this can be 

 arrested, it will not be many years before one of the most historic 

 trees of the continent will have vanished. 



THE CHARTER OAK 



The first settlers at Hartford, Conn., found there a white oak, tall 

 and spreading, already full of years its age even then being esti- 

 mated at several centuries that was a valued land mark of the 

 Indians. They begged the pioneers to spare the ancient oak while 

 clearing the forest growth, saying, "It has been the guide of our an- 

 cestors for hundreds of years, as to the time of planting our corn, 

 when the leaves are the size of a mouse's ears, then is the time to put 

 the seed into the ground." Granting the Indians' request to leave 

 the ancient oak untouched, the white men builded better than they 

 knew, for in a few years it had rendered them a service of great worth. 



In 1687, Governor Andros, whom King James had appointed 

 Governor of all New England, attended a session of the Colonial 

 Assembly at Hartford, and demanded its charter. In an instant, the 

 lights in the hall were extinguished, and relit, but the historic docu- 

 ment had vanished from the table where it lay. Captain Wadsworth 

 had carried it away and concealed it in the old oak's hollow trunk. 



Strangely enough, King Charles II, who had granted the charter, 

 had himself been obliged to take refuge in the trunk of an oak, eleven 

 years previous, after the battle of Worcester, England. Later, his 



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