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 solitaiy v/astes. 
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 Avay-mark in the Avilderness — 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 ciAulized being. The 
man wdio could do such an act Avould have been Avorthy to make 
one of the horde of Attila, barbarians Avho delighted to level to 
the groimd every object over Avhich their OAvn horses could not 
leap. 
Opposed to this is an instance less striking, but more pleasing, 
and happily much nearer to our ovati neighborhood. Upon the 
banks of the Susquehannah, not far from the little village of 
Bainbridge, the traveller, is he folloAVS the road, observes a 
A'ery fine tree before him, and as he approaches he Avill 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 side. The tree stands in the wery posi- 
tion where a thorough-going utilitarian woidd doubtless quarrel 
Avith it, for the road is turned a little out of its true course to 
SAveep 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 Ave could see, there was not a sin 
gle mark of abuse upon its trunk or branches. 
