On the Perversity of Certain Trees 



proper place, where you want it, and, ten 

 to one, it will sulk and defy you. 



One's favorites show in extreme youth 

 a propensity to come in contact with cows' 

 horns and the jackknives of mischievous 

 boys, that is another proof of ill-regulated 

 character. They let their top-buds perish 

 in the most careless way, and put out two 

 leaders instead of one before you know it ; 

 they grow unevenly, they make themselves 

 untidy with absurd little leaves up and 

 down their stems, with a vague idea of 

 keeping the sun off their trunks. One 

 has a constant struggle with evergreens to 

 keep their lower limbs in condition ; they 

 always prefer to go barefooted. Indeed, 

 I call one Norway Spruce I know of Sock- 

 less Jerry, on account of this very failing. 



There is a crying instance of depravity 

 in a moderate-sized White Ash on our 

 lawn, which ought to be a stately tree by 

 this time, for a neighbor tells us it has 

 been growing there for forty years. Every 

 spring it puts out a magnificent crop of 

 new shoots, and we congratulate our- 

 selves that at last it has really made up 

 its mind to go ahead and reward us for 

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