45 



CHAPTER III. 



THE LEAF. 



i. T N the first of the poems of which the English 

 A Government has appointed a portion to be 

 sung every day for the instruction and pleasure 

 of the people, there occurs this curious statement 

 respecting any person who will behave himself 

 rightly : "He shall be like a tree planted by 

 the river side, that bears its fruit in its season. 

 His leaf also shall not wither ; and you will see 

 that whatever he does will prosper." 



I call it a curious statement, because the conduct 

 to which this prosperity is promised is not that 

 which the English, as a nation, at present think 

 conducivc to prosperity : but whether the statement 

 be true or not, it will be easy for you to recollect 

 the two eastern figures under which the happiness 

 of the man is represented, — that he is like a tree 

 bearing fruit " in its season " ; (not so hastily as 

 that the frost pinch it, nor so late that no sun 

 ripens it ;) and that " his leaf shall not fade." I 

 should like you to recollect this phrase in the 



