Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-02-21

unwinding it as went. The line was scy-
enty-6ve feet long / came to the end Of
the line before completing the circuit. Nine
feet more were needed. had dismountcd
before structure eighty-four feet in circum-
ference and nearly three hundred feet high,
and [ should not have guessed that it would
measure more than fifteen feet through. 1t
did not look to me twice as large as the Big
Elm on the Common. although that is only
eighteen feet in circumference, and this was
twenty-eight in diameter During the day
[ had seen dozen sugar pines which ap-
peared to be far more lofty
The next one we measured was 80 feet
and 2 inches in girth; the third was 80 feet
There are nearly three times as many ofthe
giant species in the grove as in the Calave-
ras cluster. Divided into two groups, there
are $50 Of them within space of mile
and three-quarters.- Colonel Warren, the
faithful and self-sacrifcing friend of agricul-
tural interests in the State, proprietor and
editor of the California Farmer, measured
the principal trees Of one group or this ridge.
some three years ago, and found one of 102
feet, two of 100 feet one of g. one of 90,
one of 80, one of 80, two of II, three of
IS, and thus gradually diminishing. till
more than hundred trees were On his list
that measured fifty feet and upwards in cir
cumference. ...
This crowd of majestic forms explains the
disappointment in first entering the grove
The general scale is too immense. Half =
dozen Of the largest trees spaced half mile
apart, and properly set off by trees of six
and eight feet in girth, would shake the
m ost volatile mind with awe.
We ought to see the Fountain Tree" Of
the Mariposa grove, hundred and two feet
in circuit, rising near the Bunker Hill Mona
ment, and bearing up crown eighty feet
above it, to feel the marvel of its bulk and
vitality. Think of that monument as liv-
ing structure. Conceive it as having grows
from a granite seed, whose outpouring life
absorbed from the earth and attracted from
the winds fine granite dust, to be slowly
compacted, by internal and unerring mason
ry, into solid squares, Of its strength and
its tapering symmetry. A work far more
marvellous than this, has been wrought by
each fragment of cone that took root FIVE
thousand feet on a ridge of the Serras, CEN
turtles ago, and now is represented by an
organism of thirty feet diameter. Jnticed.
it is quite probable that there have been a
few trees in both the Mariposa and Calave~
ras groves, which have built their su blime
columns out of the air, through the energy
Of a single seed, in whose trunk Bunker
Hill monument could have been inserted
and hidden, while the stem would still spring
more than two hundred feet above its apex
stone. For the ruins of one, now lie In tho
Mariposa grove. which was forty feet in
diameter, and must have lowered more than
four hundred feet high.
TESTS OF CHARAcrER.-A great mauy
admirable actions are overlooked by as, be-
cause they are so little and so commoa.--
Take, for instance, the mother who has had
broken slumber, if any at all, with the nurs-
ing babe, whose wants must not be disrc-
garded; she would fain sleep awhile when
the breakfast hour comes, but patiently and
uncomplainingly she takes her timely seat
at the table. Though exhausted and weary,
she nerves all with a refreshing cup Of coffee
or tea before she sips it herself and often
the cup is handed back to her to be re6lled.
before she has time to taste her own. Do
you hear her complain--this weary mother
that her breakfast is cold before she has
time to eat it? And this not for one but
every morning perhaps through the year !
Do you call this small thing TRY it and
see. Oh! how does woman shame us by
her forbearance and fortitude in what are
wrongfully called little things! All! it is
these little things which are the tests Of
character: it is by these ''little" self denials.
born with much self forgotten gentleness
that the humblest home is made beautiful
to the eyes Of angels. though we fail to see
it, alas till the chair is vacant, and the
hand which kept in orderly motion all this
domestic machinery is powerless and cold.
SpuReEoN's W1r.-Mr. Layard, after
short interval of literary retirement, has.
been reelected to the House Of Commons
from Southwark. An amusing anecdote is
told in connection with his election. The.
Reverend Mr.. Spurgeon, the celebrated
preacher, had promised Mr.. Layard his
vote, when brother minister appealed to-
him by letter to vote for Mr. Scovell, Mr. 3
Layard's opponent, and urged as reason
for such vote, that the Lord was on SEQ
velrs side. Sturgeon replied Dear
Brother B =, am rejo;ced to hear what
you tell me, that the Lord is or, the side Of
Mr.. Scovell. for in that case shall not do
the slightest harm by gratifying my incli-
nation in voting for Mr.. Layard." ,@ s
@We never respect persons who aim
simply to amuse us. There is vast diff
ference between those we call amusing men
and those we denominate entertaining men,
we laugh with the former, and reflect with
the latter.
~A cute Yankee in Kansas sells iion5.
in a gun barrel, instead Of glass. that ho
may avoid the law, and make it appear be
yond dispute, that be is selling by the bar