Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-08-13
W PLANT TREES.

~ Z PLANT TREES.
IN one of the WaveTly Novels, an old
Scottish laird is pictured as calling his son
to him on his death bed and advising him
to this effect: "John, when you have moth
ing else 10 do, be putting in a tree, for it
will be growing while you are sleeping;
my father told me the same thing forty
years ago, but have never found time to
follow his advice" There is a world of
wisdom in the old Iaird's suggestion, and
we feel this morning like presenting it TO
our readers for their consideration. Whata
beautiful thing a tree is, and how much
comfort and satisfaction it affords, and yet
how little cost or trouble it gives.
This hot August;day, the heat comes,up
swift and scorching from the baked pave
ments and stony streets. The city looks
parched and reflects with cruel intensity
the glaring heat as it comes straight and
fierce from the sun.
How much more beautiful and inviting
would it appear, and how much cooler and
more healthful would it be, if, ten years
ago, the good people of this growing city
had put down" young trees and left
them to grow while they were sleeping
and pressing on in their busy life. We
would have enjoyed blessings TO day that
it would have cost them nothing to give.
But our city and country are made up
of homes. The beauty and comfort of the
homes, therefore, make up the attractions
of the city and country. When we beau
tify our own residences, when we plant
trees to shade us from the sun, when we
make the pretty green grass plot and orna-
ment it with shrubs and flowers, we add
to the comfort and happiness of the pub
lie as we'll as to crafty our own tastes.
Considering how very trifiing is the cost
of a tree, or a shrub, or u flower, or the
green grass, is it not wonderful that people
will not give that trifle for the pleasures
to follow? How many homes in the city,
town and country do we find looking bare
and hot, scraggy and desOlate when few
trees and grass that would cost absolutely
nothing but an hours work would convert
them into pleasant abodes. How many of
our readers on the farm live out unprOtect-
ed by shade, in the hot sun, taking its
piercing rays year after year, their homes
looking uninviting and being positively
uncomfortable, when they might with a
few hours work and care make each one
comparatively a paradise.
But comfort and pecuniary considera-
tons are not alone to be looked at. There
are often associations connected with
home that are strong enough to change
the course of life Take a boy of
good heart, let him plant with his
own youthful hands young tree, let him
grow with it, unfolding the powers of his
mind and the strength of his muscles as it
takes deeper root and spreads out new
branches; let the early associations of a
happy home become mingled with its
roughened bark and strong limbs; let its
shady boughs and the green sward under
it be part of the picture of his boyish
pleasures and hopes, and there may be at
fractions about this old home tree strong
enough to call him in maturer years from
a rowing reckless life, and rekindle the
nobler aspirations and aims of better days
There is sentiment enough in every young
heart to Irvine around so great an orna'
ment and pleasure to a home as tree
may prove, affections which neither time
nor care can sunder,
Plant trees, then, to add comfort and
beauty to the city and country, ornament
and pleasure to our homes, and to kindle
in young hearts attractions strong enough
to draw them away from vice and misery
Plant trees, for they cost but little in time
or trouble and will prove blessings to gene
ratiOnS to come. HH#