SECOND DAY. 37 



the age of the oak, there seems some truth 

 in this saying of our forefathers. The 

 oldest men in this neighbourhood, and some 

 have reached eighty years, say they re- 

 member trees which are " not a mossle 

 chainged " since they were breeched. But 

 much has been written on ancient trees 

 known to have been standing before the 

 Conquest. Yonder is an elm, which was 

 a lusty tree when the Parliament men chased 

 the fugitive Royalists across these mea- 

 dows. 



" Sure thou didst flourish once, and many springs, 

 Many bright mornings, much dew, many showers 



Pass'd o'er thy head ; many light hearts and wings, 

 Which now are dead, lodged in thy living towers." 



Yes, this field was once stoutly contested 

 for nearly a whole day. 



J. Heaven grant that such quiet scenes 

 may never again be the theatre of such 

 fearful doings ! History usually gives us 

 but the outline of events, and many an 



