190 HILLS AND LAKES. 



be he can't write out the sarmons, nor repeat the texts, 

 yet he's all the time growin' stronger and stronger in 

 his faith, and better in his heart. The tall forest tree 

 preaches to him. It puts forth its little buds when 

 the spring time comes, and spreads out its great leaves 

 in the summer months, that make a cool shade in the 

 heat of noon. When the frost comes, those great 

 leaves wither and die, and the fall winds scatter them 

 abroad, to make food for new things that grow up in 

 the wild wocd. The great tre; itself, when decay 

 seizes upon its trunk, and the earth-woMns bui rough 

 in its roots, drops its branches, and at \ast falls to the 

 ground. Well, those little buds, and them great 

 leaves, and the frosts and fall winds that scatter them 

 abroad, to become aliment for new vegetation, are the 

 heads of the discourse ; and the great tree itself, when 

 it falls to the earth to decay and rot, is the admonition 

 that closes it. It tells him the history- of his own life, 

 and talks to him about his own schemes, and hopes, 

 and passions, anc hio final destiny at 'ast. The little 

 buds tell him of the time T hen he was smart and 

 young, with his thousand childish schemes and boyish 

 plans. The tree, in its maturity, reminds him of the 

 vigor, and strength, and pride of manhood, and the 



