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its branches decay, one after another; it 

 droops, as it were, not under the weight 

 of age, but its numerous infirmities : a 

 little longer, and its ample head, so long 

 the subject of admiration, shall please no 

 more. Rottenness has seized upon its vi- 

 tals, and sink it must. The whole life of a 

 man, devoted to the purpose, could not 

 rear its fellow, the age of an ephemeron, 

 so devoted, in proper season, might have 

 averted its fate. Surely then no reader, 

 who has eyes to see, or taste to appre- 

 ciate the value of such objects, will 

 grudge the time spent in investigating a 

 cause, which oft " despoils the Oak, of 

 " half its numbered years.'' 



A tree, past its vigour, may be aptly 

 enough compared to a poor man ; his in- 

 come is scanty, and therefore, there is a ne- 

 cessity for husbanding every penny ; it is 

 indeed surprising, what a decent appear- 

 ance many such make, by practising the 

 most rigid economy ; but, to do that, 

 2 



