10 
this grove, there stood an oak, which, 
though shapely and tall on the whole, 
bulged out into a large excrescence about 
the stem. On this a pair of Ravens fixed 
their residence for such a series of 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 
©f 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 acknowledged the 
undertaking to be too hazardous. So the 
Ravens built on, nest upon nest, in per- 
fect security, till the fatal 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 wood 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 waft 
