218 
RURAL HOURS. 
Columbia River, there stood a single tree, of great size, one of the 
majestic pines of that region, and long known as a landmark to 
the hunters and emigrants passing over those solitary wastes. 
One of the expeditions sent out to explore that country by the 
government, arriving near the point, were on the watch for that 
pine to guide their course ; they looked for it some time, but in 
vain ; at length, reaching the spot where they supposed it ought 
to have stood — a way-mark in the wilderness — they found the 
tree- lying on the earth. It had been felled, and left there to rot, 
by some man claiming, no doubt, to be a civilized being. The 
man who could do such an act would have been worthy to make 
one of the horde of Attila, barbarians who dehghted to level to 
the ground every object over which their own horses could not 
leap. 
Opposed to this is an instance less striking, but more pleasing, 
and happily much nearer to our own neighborhood. Upon the 
banks of the Susquehannah, not far from the little village of 
Bainbridge, the traveller, as he follows the road, observes a 
very fine tree before him, and as he approaches he will find it to 
be a luxuriant elm, standing actually in the midst of the high- 
way ; its branches completely cover the broad track, sweeping- 
over the fences on either sid.e. The tree stands in the very posi- 
tion where a thorough-going utilitarian would doubtless quarrel 
with it, for the road is turned a little out of its true course to 
sweep round the trunk ; but in the opinion of most people, it is 
not only a' very beautiful object in itself, but highly creditable to 
the neighborhood ; for, not only has it been left standing in its 
singular position, but as far as we could see, there was not a sin- 
gle mark of abuse upon its trunk or branches. 
