BEECH-TREE. 107 



may hear them, in the stillness of a summer evening, 

 pouring forth their sweet, mellifluous tones, first one, 

 then another, when twilight is on the hills, or as yet the 

 day has scarcely dawned. Summer winds, too, how nimbly 

 they come and go, causing that gentle rustling among 

 the leaves, which sounds in accordance with the rushing 

 of yonder rivulet ! Nor is the hum of bees wanting in 

 this lone spot, although no cottage homes are near, nor 

 yet bee-gardens, with their broad hedges of honeysuckles 

 and sweet briars. Bees revel in my fragrant flowers, and 

 their humming sounds, with birds and winds, make one 

 of nature's concerts. 



Every tree has its peculiar characteristics. Majesty is 

 developed in the oak, gracefulness in the ash, an undefined 

 sense of beauty in the birch ; mine is cheerfulness. Even 

 my wood, the favourite lois d'andelle of Paris, produces 

 a clear and lively fire ; and the maker of musical instru- 

 ments obtains from my trunk materials for his sounding- 

 boards. 



