100 VOICES FROM THE WOODLANDS. 



Lastly, among such as have been great in their day of 

 power, is the Raven oak of "Wolmer Forest. 



In one of those wild and secluded spots that verge 

 on its precincts, stood a grove of oaks of peculiar growth 

 and great value; they were tall and taper, like firs, but, 

 standing near together, they had only a little brush, 

 without any large limbs. Those who knew the value 

 of this kind of tree, spoke of them as yielding the 

 finest timber, but, to the eye of the painter or the poet, 

 there was nothing to admire in the tall and unvaried 

 columns, One tree, however, grew in the centre of the 

 little grove, which many resorted to, on account of its 

 great antiquity, and which, although partaking somewhat 

 of the character of those who stood around, in its height 

 and shape, bulged out into a large excrescence about the 

 middle of the stem. 



Ponderous and stately stood the firm old tree, 

 'Mid that thick grove ; where, ivy-twined and grey, 

 The brotherhood stood round, with lichen tufts 



