BOX-TREE. 31 9 



leaves ; but from this their intense bitter effectually secures 

 them. And not only on the Surrey hills, but at Box-hill, 

 near Dorking ; and at Boxwell, and Boxley, in Gloucester- 

 shire and Kent; and on the chalk hills near Dunstable, 

 grow numerous box-trees. 



I stand, continued an old box, which had attained the 

 height of twenty feet, on the Surrey hills, the sole survivor 

 of a patriarchal wood. Young trees grow round, but their 

 heads are covered with the snow that fell last night, and I 

 remain alone, dense and compact a vegetable column, 

 conspicuous as far as the eye can reach. Not a footstep 

 may be seen on the pure white dazzling surface, neither 

 of men nor animals ; not a tree lifts up its head, nor a 

 branch reveals the many that are hidden from sight ; but 

 should any one rashly attempt to reach my growing-place, 

 he would meet a barrier of intermingling boughs, and many 

 a strong trunk to impede his way. Nature is enwrapped 

 as with a winding-sheet, elaborately worked, and sparkling 

 with crystals; yet still a winding-sheet. But look how 



