DECEMBER. 301 



crossed the brook I never knew ; I crept cautiously, and 

 with fair success reached grassy ground again. 



A grand old elm, now much decayed, graces the 

 meadow here, and called up at once some of these splendid 

 trees near home. Although so very large, it is not im- 

 probahle that this tree at Waverley is much younger 

 than some of the oaks near which it stands. I know of 

 many of great size that have not yet rounded out a cent- 

 ury, and one in my own yard that not quite sixty years 

 ago was planted by my grandfather — the tree bei.ng then 

 little more than a switch — now measures over three feet in 

 diameter a yard or more above the ground, and at the 

 root it covers half a square rod, at least. Few would sus- 

 pect it to be so young a tree. 



Why, when such trees as are perfect specimens of 

 their kind stand near public roads, can they not be held 

 — well, semi-sacred, at least? Should not their owners 

 be induced to let them stand? Indeed, could a com- 

 munity do better with a portion of the public funds 

 than to purchase all such trees for the common good? 

 Particularly is it true of a level country that the only 

 bit of nature held in common is the sky. I would that 

 here and there a perfect tree could be added to the list. 

 I have known enormous oaks to be felled because they 

 shaded too much groand and only grass could be made 

 to grow beneath them. It is sad to think that trees, re- 

 spected even by the Indians, should have no value now. 

 The forest must inevitably disappear, but do our necessi- 

 ties require that no monuments to it shall remain ? 



My companion, 



" Climbing fhie loose-piled wall that hems 

 The road along the mill-pond's brink," 



led the way to the ruins of an ancient mill and old mill- 

 dam that is still intact, and fairly darted down a stony 



