66 
CONSOLATION. 
shade ; nay, we could wish to be always repos¬ 
ing under it, — to listen to the murmurs of 
its branches, and breathe its delicious per¬ 
fumes. The magnificent chesnut, and the 
slender acacia, have each disputed the right 
of the Linden tree to hold a place in the pub¬ 
lic avenues and promenades; but they, and 
fashion united, have not succeeded in banish¬ 
ing it thence. 
CONSOLATION. 
SNOWDROP. 
The north wind whistles, and the hoar frost 
clothes the verdure-despoiled trees; an uni¬ 
form white carpet covers the earth,—the birds 
withhold their tuneful song,—and the sealed 
waters cease to murmur as they roll along; 
the rays of the sun, enfeebled by the density 
of our atmosphere, shed a gloomy light over 
our fields; and the heart of man is sad, while 
all nature reposes in torpid tranquillity. 
Thus Madame de la Tour describes the 
state of nature, when suddenly a delicate 
flower pierces through the veil of snow which 
had concealed it. It has been aptly termed 
by her countrymen Perce neige, from the 
quality just named; and is with equal pro- 
