INTRODUCTION 



disastrous to the British but most opportune to 

 the Colonials on that memorable return from 

 Concord and Lexington, April iQth, 1775. 



Under the shade of a fine old elm, William 

 Penn made his famous treaty with the 

 Indians. The Charter Oak concealed the 

 valuable parchment which Governor Andros 

 demanded from Connecticut in 1687, and 

 took its place as one of the immortals in the 

 history of that state. And there is yet 

 another tree, once noted for its beauty, 

 but now only for the event which took 

 place under its sheltering arms. The old elm 

 at Cambridge, shorn of its glory, but still 

 standing, marks the place where Washington 

 took command of the American army! 



These are some of the trees which have 

 left their imprint upon the minds of millions. 

 In addition to these, in many a sequestered 

 spot may be found a tree, little known to the 

 world at large, and yet as dear to the heart 

 of some worthy individual or community 

 as the small college was to the heart of 

 Daniel Webster. "I don't doubt," says 

 Holmes in the "Autocrat," "there may be 



