BEECH-TREE. 115 



who gave them a decided preference. And hark to the 

 cheerful notes of the swineherd's horn, with which he 

 enlivens their repast ; and when their little twinkling eyes 

 begin to close, he conducts them to their shelter for the 

 night. Scarcely, however, has the sun arisen, and begun 

 to gild our topmost boughs, than the swineherd summons 

 his grunting charge. He shows them the pool or clear 

 stream at which they can either bathe or quench their 

 thirst, and encourages them to pick up the remnant of 

 their last evening's repast ; and when our giant trees fling 

 their long shadows on the grass, he gives them another 

 plentiful repast beneath our branches, or beneath those of 

 contiguous oaks, which ofttimes rain acorns upon them 

 for an hour together at the sound of his horn ; after which 

 he reconducts them to their hovel for the night. 



The next day he generally procures them another meal, 

 with music playing as before. He then gradually with- 

 draws, keeping, however, a watchful eye on their evening 

 hours. But when their appetites are satisfied they rarely 



