THE TREES OF AMERICA. 3 



falls, close to us, some solitary spray, some wreath of two or three motionless 

 large leaves, the type and the imbodymg of all we feel and imagine, but can 

 never see." 



If we should follow out this investigation in all the varied works of creation, 

 we should stiU find beauty eA^ery where ; addressing us in every sight and sound, 

 as if it were its special mission to lead us to the skies. It may not be inappro- 

 priate to add, that if the meanest human soul is capable of appreciating all this, 

 and ten thousand times more, in the varied beauties of thought and action, how 

 passing Avonderful it is, and how solemn a thing is life, when it is viewed as the 

 time for the commencement of the development of a being whose existence shall 

 -run parallel with the march of the ages ! 



We have not written thus to vindicate the object of our work to the public, 

 but as a sort of introduction, which we should like to extend much farther, did 

 our proposed limits pennit. Such is the general intelligence of our people that 

 we deem ourselves fortunate in having such a tribunal to decide upon the useful- 

 ness of our undertaking. If in a single district of one of our rural villages, 

 containing not more than two thousand inhabitants, two hundred subscribers 

 could be obtained in advance, to encourage a work of this description, we need 

 not fear the verdict in this respect. We shall endeavor to perform our task in a 

 manner which shall show our appreciation of such enlightened patronage. It 

 has been repeatedly said to us by eminent gentlemen, who have honored us with 

 the approval of our design, that in no other country could such an instance be 

 found, and we may be pardoned if we glory in it, as an evidence of the intelli- 

 gence of the people. 



Do-wning says he is " almost forced to believe that the famous common schools 

 of New England teach the aesthetics of art, and that the beauty of shade trees 

 is the care of especial professorships." Strutt, in his work upon the trees of 

 England, claims that there is no people who feel so much reverence, or manifest 

 so much love, for these " most beautiful things in nature," as the English, in- 

 stancing, in proof, that a tree on the estate of a nobleman was preserved, although 

 two hundred pounds had been offered for it. In our travels, while collecting 

 materials for this work, we have constantly met with instances of this kind, 



