— 313 — 



history. For the ancients some trees, some groves were 

 sacred, endowed with prophetic voices. 



Dodona was not the only forest, where oaks had 

 tongues, full of meaning, occasionally, of alarming 

 portent ; and, me thinks, on a sunny June morn, or on 

 a pensive moon-lit September eve, my fancy, in its 

 exuberant moments, could gather from a cherished 

 centennial Elm which stands sentry over my dwelling, 

 pleasant, mysterious whisperings, when stirred by mid- 

 summer Zephirs ; perchance on the morrow, when the 

 angry voice of the storm was heard, it would creak and 

 groan aloud, as if in pain ! 



A mountain pine, an emerald cluster of maples, in 

 their proud leaf and protective shadow, oft give per- 

 ennial vigor to a rivulet, whose crystalline waters 

 bring health and gladness to a whole village. Cut down 

 that tree ; root out the cluster and ten chances to one, 

 the living rivulet will dry up. 



Shade-trees in our green pastures, provide a grateful 

 shelter to the lowing kine, during August's sultry days. 



Trees have yet other sweet memories. 



A verdant maple, a graceful far-expanding, feathery 

 Elm, a gigantic, sturdy beech, may be dear to the family 

 circle : perchance the one or the other dates from the 

 natal hour of the first-born. 



4< What does he plant who plants a tree, 



He plants cool shade and tender rain, 



And seed and bud of days to be, 



And years that fade and flush again : 



He plants the glory of the plain ; 



He plants the forest's heritage ; 



The harvest of coming age ; 



The joy that unborn eyes will see — 



These things he plants who plants a tree." 



The Heart of the Tree — H. C. Bunner. 



Ladies and gentlemen, poets have sung " the vener- 

 able brotherhood of old trees," is this why we ought to 

 cherish and protect the trees of our homes ? And in 



