THE OAK. 



THE OAK {Quercus pedunculatd). — HOSPITALITY. 



"A broad Oak, stretching forth its leafy arms 

 From an adjoining pasture, overhung 

 Small space of that green churchyard with a light 

 And pleasant awning. On the moss-grown wall 

 My ancient friend and I together took 

 Our seats." WORDSWORTH. 



The earlier inhabitants of the earth thought that the Oak, 

 created with the earth, suppHed to the first of our race both 

 food and shelter. Sacred to Jupiter, this tree gave shade to 

 the cradle of that god, when born in Arcadia, on Mount 

 Lyceum. The crown of oak leaves, less valued by the Greeks 

 than a golden crown, seemed to the Romans the most 

 desirable reward. He who would win it must be a citizen, 

 have slain an enemy, recovered a battle, or saved the life of 

 a Roman. Scipio Africanus refused the civic crown when 

 tendered to him for having saved his father on the field of 

 Trebia, because he deemed the action its own sufficient 

 reward. The Celts worshipped the Oak, regarding it as the 

 emblem of Hospitality, a virtue which they held so dear, 

 that, next to the title of " Hero," the " Friend of the Stranger" 

 was with them the most valued designation. 



The Oak is specially deserving of being assigned by us 

 as the emblem of Hospitality, because it furnished a refuge 

 to our King, Charles the Second, on his escape from the 

 field of battle in which his army was routed. 



147 L 2 



