A PLEA FOR THE TREES. 
ANNE WAKELY JACKSON. 
UCH has been written, and more 
M has been said, in regard to the 
“prevention of cruelty to chil- 
dren,” and the “prevention of 
cruelty to animals;” but has anyone 
ever urged upon the public the pre- 
. vention of cruelty to frees? 
It is time someone did, for people 
nowadays seem to have no regard 
whatever for a tree’s feelings, but saw 
and hack'a limb off here or there at 
any season of the year the notion hap- 
pens to seize them, and leave the poor 
thing maimed and disfigured, and per- 
haps pouring out its life-blood from 
the ugly wound. 
If you are insensible to the beauty, 
the blessing and benignity of trees, 
there is no use in appealing to you. 
But surely you are not! Surely you 
can call to mind some old tree that 
brings up memories of the past, and 
appeals to you with almost human ten- 
derness! 
Then, for the sake of these old, tried, 
and well-beloved friends, look with 
compassion upon all trees, and discour- 
age those who would spoil and disfig- 
ure them. 
Have you ever thought how sad a 
tree must feel when it is transplanted 
from the forest to the city or town? 
How it must miss its tall and stalwart 
companions the shy woodland birds, 
and the flowers that spring up around 
it each year! The parting from them 
all is bad enough, but there is worse to 
come. It little dreams of the hideous 
and deforming “trimming” that will 
begin as soon as it commences to 
spread its tiny branches! Poor little 
Then as a little helpless, innocent bird, 
That has but one plain passage of few 
notes, 
Will sing the simple passage o’er and 
o’er 
For all an April morning, till ear 
Wearies to hear it. —Tennyson. 
174 
tree! I wonder it does not die of grief 
and pain! 
Doubtless, it sighs and sobs out its 
longing for the old free home, in the 
ears of the passing wind, though we 
are too dull to understand its murmur- 
ing voice. 
If the wind is in a good humor, he 
caresses it gently, and tries to comfort 
it; but sometimes he is angry, and 
then he shakes the poor tree fiercely. 
But it loves him always, whether he is 
gentle or rough. 
I suppose it is sometimes necessary 
to trim trees. 1 hear people say so; 
But I think a tree of beautiful and per- 
fect shape is more desirable than the 
little patch of lawn that might be 
gained by ‘‘trimming it up.” 
Ought not one to consider, and care- 
fully study the tree, as a whole, before 
venturing toremove any of its branches? 
To examine it from every point of 
view? Above all,if your trees must be 
trimmed, see about it yourself, and don’t 
trust them to the ruthless hands of 
people insensible to beauty—those to 
whom a tree is only so much wood! 
And be very sure your “cause’”’ is ‘“‘jus- 
tifiable” before you allow them to be 
touched. 
Remember that the finest trees are 
of slow growth; and if ever you are 
tempted to cut down a really fine one, 
just stop a moment and reflect that it 
may take half a lifetime to replace it. 
If these people who have a mania 
for cutting down trees could but be 
persuaded to plant a new one for every 
old one they sacrifice, what a blessing 
it would be to future generations! 
The sycophant succeeds where the 
self-respecting man fails, yet the for- 
mer is despised and the latter revered. 
The first is happy if he secure the favor 
of the ‘great; the latter=is content i 
he can secure that of himself.— Charles 
Churchill Marble. 
