60 



THE YEW TREE- 



THE YEW TREE. 



I never cast my eyes on the mouldering fabrics 

 which once adorned this land, without renew- 

 ing my veneration for the memory of the holy 

 and useful monks who have gone before us. 

 There is still enough left of the falling walls 

 to show how much these faithful friends of 

 the poor and needy must have been esteemed 

 through the whole extent of the nation: and 

 when I sit me down under the dark foliage of 

 some ancient yew tree, which has escaped the 

 fury of the destroying Vandals, and think of the 

 miserable state to which the sons of poverty are 

 now reduced, I cannot help heaving a sigh, whilst 

 my very heart itself seems to sink within me. 



I am extremely partial to the yew tree* It 

 has already repaid me for the pains which I 

 have taken in its cultivation ; and when I resort 

 to my usual evening stand, in order to watch 

 the flocks of sparrows, finches, and starlings, 

 whilst they are dropping in upon the neigh- 

 bouring hollies, I feel not the wintry blast ; as 



