OF GEOWTH IN TEEES. 99 



on the shoot, for instance, prepare the sap or nutrient material 

 for the leaves above them, the little twigs assist to develop 

 the branchlets, and the branchlets aid in the growth of the 

 branches. In point of fact the whole tree may be regarded as 

 a " Mutual Aid Society;" and thus should it be in this world. 



The tree is all the time changing its form, and in like manner 

 society is ever changing its aspect through all its ramifications. 

 Through want of life-energy and industry, some are losing 

 gradually that social position to which they were elevated by 

 their ancestors. They are rapidly losing the sap * for which all 

 are contending. This is now being diverted away from them to 

 other channels, to individual shoots and branches, where there 

 is more vital activity, for sap is always attracted to these parts ; 

 these stranger shoots are becoming more and more conspicuous 

 in the social tree, and will soon overtop and conceal them. It 

 is thus that the rich sometimes become poor, and the poor rich. 



But there are other causes which effect great social changes 

 in a community. Sometimes the form of a tree changes in 

 consequence of storms ; its branches are broken off by power- 

 ful winds. And what man is sure for one moment against 

 calamity ! This is so well known, that the words ' ' in prosperity 

 prepare for adversity" have passed into a proverb. How fre- 

 quently have the fruits of years of toil and privation been lost 

 in a single hour! 



It has, however, been shown that the injury done to the tree 

 is soon effaced, that when branches are thus removed, those 

 less developed get the sap which they monopolized. And does 

 not precisely the same law obtain in society? If any body 

 suffers in person or pocket, somebody is sure to benefit. 

 Hence the force of the old Scotch proverb, "It's an ill wind 

 that blaws naebody ony luck." 



But the most remarkable and interesting feature about a tree 

 is the fact that it is a body so easily impressible. All its 

 periodical changes from a state of rest to that of motion, those 

 waves of growth of which we have spoken, have left an indeli- 



* Sap,'or dollars that circulating medium so necessary to the development 

 of individuals and societies in civilized communities. 



