MONTH OF APPLE BLOSSOMS 115 



they put a little head of buds, which a few rains and 

 days of encouraging warmth solicit to a cluster of 

 blossoms. At first rosy and pink, then opening 

 purely white. And now, where is your old, homely 

 tree? 



All its crookedness is hidden by the sheets of 

 blossoms. The whole top is changed to a royal 

 dome. The literal, fruit-bearing tree is trans- 

 figured, and glows with raiment whiter and purer 

 than any white linen. It is a marvel and a glory! 

 What if you have seen it before, ten thousand 

 times over? An apple-tree in full blossom is 

 like a message, sent fresh from heaven to earth, 

 of purity and beauty. We walk around it rever- 

 ently and admiringly. We are never tired of 

 looking at its profusion. Homely as it ordinarily 

 is, yet now it speaks of the munificence of God 

 better than any other tree. 



The very glory of God seems resting upon it! 

 It is a little inverted hemisphere, like that above 

 it, and it daily mimics with bud and bloom 

 the stars that nightly blossom out into the 

 darkness above it. Though its hour of glory 

 is short, into it is concentrated a magnificence 

 which puts all the more stately trees into the 

 background. If men will not admire, insects and 

 birds will! 



There, on the very topmost twig, that rises and 

 falls with willowy motion, sits that ridiculous but 



