WILD CORNEL-TREE. 297 



appointed place, I am subserving the purpose of my 

 Creator. True it is that my berries are extremely bitter, 

 but they yield lamp-oil and a purple dye ; and my firm 

 hard wood, which gave to me a name derived from cornu, 

 horn, is in great request for many important purposes. 

 My unpretending branches yield leaves that are acceptable 

 to sheep and goats ; and in spring, lambs, when tired with 

 their gambols, lie down in peace beneath my shade. But 

 who may pass the cornel-tree unnoticed, at that dull season, 

 when a poet, looking over the fading landscape, asks 

 complainingly 



" Where is the pride of summer the green prime, 

 The many, many leaves all twinkling ? Three, 

 On the mossed elm, three on the naked lime, 

 Trembling, and one upon the old oak-tree !" 



Then it is that the cornel stands forth in all her pride ; 

 her foliage deep red, her boughs of the same rich hue, 

 her leaves rustling in the fresh breeze of autumn, and 

 brilliantly contrasted with many a denuded brother, throwing 



