My First Summer 



dred feet above the sea they are smaller, say 

 a foot to fifteen inches long, and at a height 

 of seven thousand feet or more near the 

 upper limits of its growth in the Yosemite 

 region they are about the same size. This 

 noble tree is an inexhaustible study and 

 source of pleasure. I never weary of gaz- 

 ing at its grand tassel cones, its perfectly 

 round bole one hundred feet or more 

 without a limb, the fine purplish color of 

 its bark, and its magnificent outsweeping, 

 down-curving feathery arms forming a 

 crown always bold and striking and exhila- 

 rating. In habit and general port it looks 

 somewhat like a palm, but no palm that I 

 have yet seen displays such majesty of form 

 and behavior either when poised silent and 

 thoughtful in sunshine, or wide-awake wav- 

 ing in storm winds with every needle quiv- 

 ering. When young it is very straight and 

 regular in form like most other conifers ; but 

 at the age of fifty to one hundred years it be- 

 gins to acquire individuality, so that no two 



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