THE CHURCHYARD. 
293 
the time these graves were dug, the spot was in a wild condition, 
upon the border of the forest, the wood having been only partially 
cut away. In a few years other members of the little community 
died, one after another, at intervals, and they were also buried 
here, until the spot had gradually taken its present character of a 
burying-ground. The rubbish was cleared away, place was made for 
those who must follow, and ere many years had passed, the brick 
walls of a little church rose within the enclosure, and Avere con- 
secrated to the worship of the Almighty, by the venerable Bishop 
Moore. And thus this piece of ground was set apart for its 
solemn purposes, while shaded by the woods, and ere it had been 
appropriated to common uses : the soil was first broken by the spade 
of the grave-digger, and Death is the only reaper who has gathered 
his harvest here. The spot soon lost its forest character, however, 
for the older trees were all felled ; possibly some among them 
may have been used as timber in building the little church. Hap- 
pily, at the time of clearing the ground, a few young bushes were 
spared from the axe, and these having been left to grow at will, 
during the course of half a century, have become fine flourishing 
trees. The greater number are pines, and a more fitting tree for 
a Christian church-yard than the white pine of America could 
scarcely be named. With all the gravity and unchanging char- 
acter of an evergreen, they have not the dull gloom of the cypress 
or the yew ; their growth is noble, and more than any other va- 
riety of their tribe, they hold murmuring communion with the 
mysterious w^inds, waving in tones of subdued melancholy over 
the humble graves at their feet. A few maples and elms, and a 
fine amelanchier, appear among them, relieving their monotonous 
character. Some of these have been planted for that purpose, 
