OF SELBORNE. 11 



stem. On this a pair of ravens had fixed 

 their residence for such a series of years, 

 that the oak was distinguished by the 

 title of The Raven Tree. Many were the 

 attempts of the neighbouring youths to 

 get at this eyry : the difficulty whetted 

 their inclinations, and each was ambi- 

 tious of surmounting the arduous task. 

 But when they arrived at the swelling, 

 it jutted out so in their way, and was so 

 far beyond their grasp, that the most 

 daring lads were awed, and acknowledged 

 the undertaking to be too hazardous. 

 So the ravens built on, nest upon nest, 

 in perfect security, till the fatal day ar- 

 rived in which the wood was to be le- 

 velled. It was in the month of February, 

 when those birds usually sit. The saw 

 was applied to the butt, the wedges were 

 inserted into the opening, the woods 

 echoed to the heavy blows of the beetle 

 or mallet, the tree nodded to its fall ; 

 but still the dam sat on. At last, when 



