FOREST TREES 



beautifully interwoven twigs and 

 stems. It is here that we first begin 

 to notice the exquisite manner of the 

 white pine. The boughs reach out 

 horizontally, with here and there one 

 that ascends or turns aside to assume 

 a position exceptionally graceful and 

 to fill out a space that seems specially 

 to have been vacated for it. I speak 

 of the white pine at the age preceding 

 maturity, when it is in its full strength, 

 but before it has attained the pictur- 

 esqueness of old age. Following an 

 easy curve, the branch divides at right 

 and left into dozens of finer branch- 

 lets, all extending forward and strain- 

 ing, as it were, to reach the light; and 

 these in turn lift up hundreds of twigs 

 and little stems to enrich the upper sur- 

 faces with bushy tufts of lithe green 

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