OF SELBOBNE, 
years, that the oak was distinguished by the title of The 
Raven Tree. Many were the attempts of the neighbouring 
youths to get at this eyry : the difficulty whetted their 
inclinations, and each was ambitious of surmounting the 
arduous task. But, when they arrived at the swelling, it 
jutted out so in their way, and was so far beyond their 
grasp, that the most daring lads were awed, and acknow- 
ledged the undertaking to be too hazardous. So the ravens 
built on, nest upon nest, in perfect security, till the fatal 
THE RAVEN. 
day arrived in which the wood was to be levelled. It was 
in the month of February, when those birds usually sit. 
The saw was applied to the butt, the wedges were inserted 
into the opening, the woods echoed to the heavy blows of 
the beetle or mallet, the tree nodded to its fall ; but still 
the dam sat on. At last, when it gave way, the bird was 
flung from her nest; and, though her parental affection 
deserved a better fate, was whipped down by the twigs, 
which brought her dead to the ground. 
