Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-01-22
miscellaneous.
Tile ACORN.


"Nhen will my training begin p SAID
ibe acorn to itself, as it unfolded Its deli
stely carved cup and saucer on the branch
an old oak On the edge of forest. 81 un-
ierstnnd am to be an oak one dav. like my
atheT. All the acorns say that Is what We
re 10 be, but there certainly seems little
hance Of it at present. have been sitting
ere for no one knows how many days, and
feel no change, except that look less pret-
than did when | was young and green,
nd begin to feel rather dry, and shriyelled. q.
nd old. At this rate, do not see much
hance Of my becoming an oak, or anything
lse but an Old, dry acorn. When viii my
raining begin -
As 1t meditated thus, strong breeze
ghel mournfully through the autumn
Foodt and shook down many brown leaves
rom the old oak, and with them the acorn.
"T is VIII hinder my progress again. -
houg the acorn, '' for it is evident that
uchs downiull as this can have nothing to
% Wit my education. When will my
rainirs b-gin?'
ADV OF two afterwards drove Of hogs
Fss Il ned into the forest, and they began
Tunr and grubbing among the dead
caves acorns. Many Of It's brethren did
Iur &C See ruthle-slv hurried into those
oraei 'u- ,nouts. It kept very quiet under
be did leaves to avoid a similar tate, but
thou ght-'' This il "a sad delay It j. too
lain that being trampled on and tossed about
Q this way can teach no one anything
hen viii my training begin 2'
MeanWhue tie swine rummargd among
he dead leaves, and trod them under foot.
nd tossed the dccaylng mould hither aud
hlther with their snouts and feet. until one
T then by accident rolled our acorn down
tile bill, where 1t lay buried under some
tray leaves many yards from the edge of the
orest, in the outskirts Of park. There it
" NJ observed all the rest Of the winter
ven tins was a pleasant change after hav-
|ig been trodden under foot So long. but in
: fan its shriveued brown sin had cracked.
nd the acorn thought this is sad dis
ster. How ever am to grow into an oa k
Fhen ] am 50 crushed and cracked that
|czrcely any one would recognize me for an
corn. When will my training begin ?''
All the winter the rain IatteIel on it, and
ank il deeper and deeper under the dead
caves and under the earth-clods, until all It's
|eorn beauty was marred and crushed out Of
!, an it fell asleep in the dark, under the
bid, damp earth and the SHOWS C. me and
|oldeo it in under their white, cider-down
|alioTs At last the warm touch that comes
p all sleeping nature in the spring, came
|oftly ou it, and it awoke
"N hat pity it said. Il should have
|Ost 8 much time by falling asleep can
|carcely make out what am like, or where
an. What a sad waste of time 1t is
learno one can 20 ON with his education in
|leep. When will my training begin ?''
Wit these thoughts it stretched out two
tile green things ON each side Of it, which
|elt hke wiug-, and tried to peep out Of its
pole, and to its delight, it succeeded, and,
|Fith few more efforts even contuved TO
|eepiis head steadily above ground. and look
|round it,
''Ihere i my father, the old oak, it said.
de looks quite green again. But am a
|ong way of from him. and how very
mall and close to the ground When
|hsll heSin 10 be like him -
But meantime 1t was very happy. 1t felt
p full OF life, although SO small and the
|un shone 50 graciousiy on it. aud all the
|hcwers and dews seemed 70 full Of kindly
|esires TO help and nourish it and more and /
pore green leaves expanded from its sides
INC more and more little busy roots shot
rown INTO the earth, and the leaves breathed
fnd drank in the sunshine, and the roots
were great chemists and cooks, and concoct-
ID perpetual least for it out Of the earth
no st'ucs- But It thought sometimes
Inns i all exceedingly pleasant. and am
|ery haTpy but, OF course. this is not edu
|4tion Il L only ENJOYING myself When
MI n training begin?'
The next spring the early frost had mucb
pore power over it in it, detached. exposed
Etuatlon, than over the saplings in the shell
|er OF The forest, and It saw the trees in the I
Feod sI'"ing green, and tempting the song
|Nrds beneath their leaiv tents, whilst the
|p = j flowed ieebly upward through its
my eei.-, and its twigs and leaf-buds were
|nii brown and hard.
1ie must be a great hindrance to me-"
\ toe = t-'' this, no doubt, will retard NV
|aucs tlon considerably. What pity | stand
|ere s. detached and unprotected When
f'ii p training begin -
bt u the late spring came some days Of
Piack east wind and bitter frost, and 1t saw
re a ore forward leaves in the wood turn
af and shrivel before they unfolded and
Ken aA ID, nIpped and lifeless, to join the
y 80 leaves OF the past autumn, whilst
. :" p H''.e buds lay safely within their
Eaie anu e'esy casings, protected by one
-. 1ila' worse. And when the east
@r ana o.aek irosts were gone, the little
|eplng shot up freely.
Y that summer and the nsxt and the nert
~ soc great progress, but in the fourth
|saft mn a great disappointment awaited il.
Inc owner OF the PARK In viii :, =, ,,.,
|oy,Rnd stood beside il. and III = - g.
|ester ~ iii7 i'i
:. mat saPling is worth pe-er,inr. it is 50
iEE rous and healthy; and stspdi1% IN his
oea chcl position, II will break tb,. lin, nf
me wood, and look well from nv Lousc We
s'h watch 1t. and set a fence around :, -
eea' u IL from the cattle.-But it Las thrown
,s,. .a'7e leader. Take your knif, anJ .n,
h.s .i1Hslns shoot away, and next wear
~ aoaot' 1t will grow well ''
ihen the forester an5lied his knil. c,-...,
'e iaIse leader, and cut 1t OIL But the
~ .ii-' not having understood the master.
N9F observed with what care and de-.
,S .'- '-y A'ilie was applied, felt wounded to
a. ''a, ana strongest shoot" it signcd
=, II was cruel cut. Ii viii take
Al - Hinc to repair that loss aia
ID It has lost at least u wear VIII,
training begin?
IsS'.t T' tne next year the masters woris we're