
WISDOM. 
WHITE MULBERRY. 
O sacred solitude! divine retreat ! 
Choice of the prudent ! envy of the great ! 
By thy pure stream, or in the waving shade, 
We court fair wisdom, that celestial maid! 
YOUNG. 
Tue ancients named the white mulberry the 
tree of wisdom, because of its tardiness in putting 
forth its leaves. We say, “ foolish almond, 
wise mulberry,” because the almond is the 
first to flower. A branch of almond, joined 
with a branch of white mulberry, expresses 
that wisdom should temper activity. 
‘“‘ This species of mulberry is commonly 
cultivated in France and other countries for 
its leaves, to feed silk-worms; and in many 
parts of the continent, when the leaves are 
wanted for the worms, they are stript off the 
young shoots, which are left naked on the tree; 
in other places the shoots are cut off, which is 
not so injurious to the tree, while the points of 
the shoots as well as the leaves are eaten by the 
worms,” 





























