p In the centre of a grove there stood an oak, 



which, though shapely and tall on the whole, bulged 



out into a large excrescence about the middle of the 



stem. On this a pair of ravens had fixed their residence for such a 



series of years, that the oak was distinguished by the title of the 



Raven Tree. 



Many were the attempts of the neighbouring youths to get at 

 this eyrie : the difficulty wetted their inclinations. But when they 

 arrived at the swelling, it jutted out so in their way, and was so far 

 beyond their grasp, that the most daring lads were awed, and 

 acknowledged the undertaking to be too hazardous. 



So the ravens built on, nest upon nest, in perfect security, till the 

 fatal day arrived in which the wood was to be levelled. 



It was in the month of February, when those birds usually sit. 



The saw was applied to the butt, the wedges were inserted into 

 the opening, the woods echoed to the heavy blows of the beetle, or 

 mallet, the tree nodded to its fall ; but still the dam [or mother bird] 

 sat on. 



At last, when it gave way, the bird was flung from her nest ; and, 

 though her parental affection deserved a better fate, was whipped 

 down by the twigs, which brought her dead to the ground. G.W. 



