THROUGH LIBRARY WINDOWS 105 



entered spiritedly into their play and work and 

 study and sorrow, and proved a perpetual in- 

 spiration. He helped many a poor boy and 

 girl into business or school and on into college. 

 Young people consulted him and found in him a 

 genuine friend. He knew good apple and pear 

 trees, and planted only the best. How exact 

 his rows, how judiciously intermingled the dif- 

 ferent varieties ; and now in their larger growth 

 the branches touch and interlock and fling down 

 matted mosaics of sunshine and shadow on the 

 rich, well kept turf. 



In classic mythology it was believed that a 

 spirit dwelt in every tree — and what tree lover 

 would care to doubt it or have it otherwise. Do 

 they not dwell there to-day, is there not a per- 

 sonality endowing the tree that we prize so 

 highly, is it not a joy to touch them and know 

 them, and even talk to them? The impersonal 

 tree has no force, no attraction, no centrifugal 

 action, it is isolated. What a humane family 

 of spirits they must be that inhabit an orchard, 

 for the apple tree is such a generous and 

 friendly tree so fond of birds and folks, so free- 

 ly putting forth its finest and fragrantest blos- 

 soms, yielding fruit that is so beautiful to the 

 sight and rich to the taste and vital to the 

 health. There is no tree so valuable to the 



