PEAR-THEE. 135 



of its wood, nor the purposes to which its silvery under- 

 bark could be applied. British and Saxon children gathered 

 fruit from the wild pear-tree, but their parents had never 

 heard concerning that dormant art with which the artist, 

 when aided by its charred wood, conveys to a broad surface 

 embodyings of his inventive genius, or delineations of what 

 has been. 



The ravine is narrow; and yet trees of all foliage group 

 on either side, each with its distinctive character and pre- 

 scribed use. How beautiful the blossoms of this pear-tree ! 

 white as snow-flakes, reflecting the light of heaven from 

 innumerable little mirrors on the embryo fruit, and yielding 

 an exquisite variety of lights and shades as the sunbeams 

 come and go. And yet this tree, with its budding foliage 

 and beauteous blossoms, the haunt of innumerable bees, 

 was once enclosed in a kernel. 



Let us consider, for a moment, the twofold uses of the 

 fruit, or rather of the pulp in which the kernel is enclosed. 

 When attained to full growth, it subserves the purpose of 



