RELATIONS OF TREES TO POETEY. 343 



and adventurous, and the very sanctuary of peaceful 

 seclusion for tlie contemplative and sorrowful. 



In our early years we are charmed with the solitude 

 of groves, with the flowers that dwell in their nooks, with 

 the living creatures that sport among their branches, and 

 with the birds that convey to us by their notes a share, of 

 their own indefinable happiness. Nature has made use 

 of trees to wed our minds to the love of homely scenes, 

 and to make us satisfied with life. How many recollec- 

 tions of village merry-makings, of rural sports and pas- 

 times, of the frolics of children and of studious recreation, 

 come to us when we sit down under some old familiar tree 

 that stands in the open field or by the wayside ! Trees 

 are among the most poetic objects of creation. Every wood 

 teems with legends of mythology and romance; every 

 tree is vocal with music ; and their flowers and fruits do 

 not afford more luxury to the sense than delight to the 

 mind. Trees have their roots in the ground ; but they send 

 up their branches toward the skies, and are so many sup- 

 plicants to Heaven for blessings on the earth. 



In whatever light we regard trees, they deserve atten- 

 tion as the fairest ornaments of nature ; and the more we 

 study them, the more do we think upon the dangers that 

 await them from the improvidence of man. He takes but 

 a narrow view of their importance who considers only 

 their economical value. The painter has always made 

 them a particular branch of his study; and the poet 

 understands their advantages in increasing the efiect of 

 his descriptions, and considers them the blessed gifts of 

 nature to render the earth a beautiful abode and sanctify 

 it to our affections. 



