194 VOICES FROM THE WOODLANDS. 



glutinous nature, readily adheres ; or else the wind, rising 

 in his might, bore it from some distant forest ; for none 

 grew within sight. I watched the progress of that young 

 tree, and saw how gradually it advanced from one season to 

 another, till at length its giant arms were nobly tossed on 

 high, and valorously resisted the fierce winds of winter. 

 But now its strength begins to fail, and oaks, beneath which 

 the Druids walked, are failing also. 



Time was, when such noble trees were wrested from 

 their right uses ; when the osiers that grew beside the 

 river, were wreathed into hideous baskets, wherein innocent 

 persons suffered; when trees, rising in umbrageous 

 majesty, concealed within their deep recesses abhorrent 

 rites, concerning which no one dared to speak ; when men 

 saw only in the trees, which God hath planted for beauty 

 and for use, the abode of mysterious or fearful beings, 

 demons whom many ignorantly worshipped ; or viewed them 

 as useful merely for the common purposes of life. 



Since then, naturalists have arisen, who have made known 



