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upward through the branches in a torrent, restoring 
life and motion to every leaf-bud which has reposed 
quietly in its bed in the twig, since the approach of 
cold weather. If any one should be so cruel as to 
cut off a large branch at that season, the current of 
sap would pour forth in a stream ; and the tree would 
bleed to death in a few days, if the wound were not 
carefully stanched. 
“ Beautiful was the day when I woke into being. 
Many leaves in which I was wrapped, had perished 
with the cold ; some had been converted into thick 
varnish, to protect the others ; some had been nipped 
by the weather and become mere scales which shel¬ 
tered their younger sisters from the winds and frosts. 
Till that day, there had been nothing but disappoint¬ 
ment and mourning among the early buds, and all 
was said to have looked gloomy and unpromising. 
But on that sunny morning when the south-west 
