COMMON OSIER. 293 



bark is valuable for tanning leather, and a decoction will 

 dye yarn of a cinnamon-colour; it possesses, also, great 

 efficacy in curing intermittent fevers, according to the 

 testimony of the Eev. Mr. Stone, in the 'Philosophical 

 Transactions' (liii. p. 195). Hence the tree grows 

 naturally in places where intermittents are most prevalent ; 

 a merciful provision, which causes the antidote to flourish 

 beside the marsh that renders its proximity needful. 



Bees delight in the flowers. You may hear their welcome 

 hum as they come and go among the willow branches ; 

 and, perhaps, when the lover of nature first goes abroad 

 into the fields in spring, no object is more pleasing 

 than a wayside willow, covered with yellow catkins and 

 humming bees. 



" Behold, that bordering fence of sallow-trees 

 Is fraught with flowers the flowers are fraught with bees ; 

 The busy bees, with a soft murmuring strain, 

 Invite to gentle sleep the lab'ring swain : 

 While from the neighb'ring rock, with rural songs, 

 The pruner's voice the pleasing dream prolongs." 



