CHAPTER XIII 
Our Beautiful Forests 
Those were splendid lives our pioneer forefathers led, 
and what made them dare so far and toil so hard was 
the knowledge that the land they cleared belonged to 
them, the fields they ploughed were their very own; in 
the New World people were so few and land so plenti¬ 
ful it could be had for the asking, it was free. 
Because the land was free our fathers came to 
America. In England the forests were far from free; 
they were owned by the king, by rich lords who were 
often cruel to their peasant tenants. Do you remember 
that old oak tree in our first chapter, the one we said 
was a sapling when William the Norman conquered 
England? That tree must have seen deeds done which 
dried the very sap in his young limbs. He saw poor 
people oppressed, driven from their homes, maimed or 
blinded for no greater crime than the killing of a stag 
to make meat for hungry children. In those days, you 
understand, a forest meant more than trees, it was a 
big slice of country containing not only woodland, but 
pastures and villages. To his rich landlord every peas¬ 
ant paid his tax, money or perhaps a sheep or fowl. 
Although hundreds of fine deer and other game abounded 
in the forest, if the peasant took bow and arrow to 
