Trees in American History 



mids, broad at the base and sharp-pointed at the 

 top. The bark is cinnamon-red, and at least a 

 foot and a half thick. The sequoias are well 

 protected by Nature. Insects, fungous diseases, 

 and forest fires have no effect on these giants of 

 the forest. 



The sequoias are more ancient than the Sphinx 

 or the Pyramids of Egypt; older by fifteen hun- 

 dred years than the ruins of King Solomon's 

 temple at Jerusalem; far older than Jerusalem 

 itself. They were already two thousand years 

 old ere Rome, the Eternal City, was begun; they 

 were living, growing trees fully three thousand 

 years before the beginning of the Christian era. 



Oh! not upon that mossy trunk 



Let the dire axe descend, 

 Nor wreck its canopy of shade, 



So long the red man's friend, 

 Nor to the cold, unpitying winds 



Those bannered branches give, 

 Smite down the forest, if ye will 



But let its monarch live! 



Sigourney. 



