The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-06-09
Monsehnla Nnras.
A Few Words about Palm Trees.

"Mother," said little Mary Moore, as she
sat looking over her Sabbath school book
one Saturday afternoon, "our last lesson
was about the children of Israel when they
were in the wilderness, and this was one of
the verses: 'And they came to Elm, where
there were twelve wells of water and three
score and ten palm trees; and they encamped
there by the waters You know how l love
to hear Miss Ingram talk; but this was the
last verse, and she had only time to tell us
that at Elm was grove of seventy palms,
and that much might be said about the palm
tree that would interest us and show US the
wisdom and goodness of God She asked if
we would try to learn something of the tree
ourselves; and now, mother, will you tell me
about it?''
"I am pleased, Mary, to know that your
teacher is careful to remind you very often
that the world is full of proofs of Divine love
and goodness; shall be glad to have little
talk with you on the subject. Have you
ever seen palm tree?"
"No, mother; Charles Hyde had some
leaves that he said were palm; but they were
all dried, and l could not learn much about
the trees from them
"You have seen many pictures of them,
1 am sure, from which you could get very
good idea of their appearance. Palm trees
have been said to be among the princes of
the vegetable world Some of them grow
up straight and strong; but they differ very
much in height, some reaching up one hun
dred feet, and even more"
"Why, mother, that is nearly as high as
the steeple of our new church. Father told
me, when we saw those men putting up the
bell, that it was one hundred and forty feet
to the top of the spire."
"That is true; but other palm trees are so
short that you could touch their tops when
standing beside them. Others still are more
like vine, and these climb the trees near
them; then they reach out and fasten them
selves upon other trees, and thus hang in
graceful festoons from one branch to anoth-
err.
"The tall palms have no branches or
leaves except at the top, but the trunks are
marked all over with spots, and where leaves
we're once attached, which have withered
and fallen off year by year. From the top
of one of these trees springs crown of
enormous leaves, which at distance very
much resembles ostrich plumes; and from the
midst of this crown bud grows up, which
bursts at length into great mass Of flowers.
When these fade and fall, large punches Of
fruit take their place.
"The leaves of the largest palms are very
great. In the island of Ceylon they are
found more than ten feet in length and
several feet in breadth. Twenty men could
find shelter under such leaf. Think of
an umbrella large enough to cover your
father, yourself and me, with all your uncles,
aunts and cousins'
cit is truly wonderful, mother. l have
never heard of such tree before"
"You will also be interested in knowing
that palm trees are as useful as they are beau
tiful. The natives of lands where they grow
find almost all their wants supplied from
them alone. The fruit they eat; and with
in the shell of one kind-the cocoanut-they
find rich milk. A healing balsam is made
from the juice of the nut; the oil extracted
from the fruit anonts their bodies and en-
balms their dead Of the sap they make
another sort of drink from the long leaf
stalks they prepare cages for their fowls and
fences for their grounds. From the leaves
they also manufacture beds, mats, roofs for
their houses, baskets, and many other things
besides; from the fbres of the trunk, fishing
lines, strings and ropes; and what is not
valuable for other purposes they burn for
fuel"
"Well, | shall have great deal to tell
my teacher. But, mother, l read in the