146 VOICES PROM THE WOODLANDS. 



" Bless, Lord, the courage of this prince, and prosper 

 the work of his hands; and, by thy blessing, may his 

 land be filled with apples, with the fruit and dew of heaven, 

 from the top of the ancient mountains, from the apples 

 of the eternal hills, from the fruits of the earth, and its 

 fulness." 



Superstitions linger around most trees : the apple-tree 

 especially is honoured with rustic observances, derived 

 without doubt from the dark ages of Pagan superstition, 

 when every tree was supposed to be indwelt by some pre- 

 siding genius. 



Yet not in the time of blossoms, when the beauty of each 

 tree gives an earnest of abundance, nor yet when ripe fruit 

 is seen upon the branches, is this ancient ceremony 

 performed. Scarcely have the merry bells ushered in the 

 morning of Christmas, than a troop of people may be seen 

 entering the apple-orchard, often when the trees are 

 powdered with hoar-frost, and snow lies deep upon the 

 groundi One of the company carries a large flask filled 



