Connecticut western news., 1873-12-26
Christmas Trees.

We are all familiar with the conven- tional Christmas tree, the evergreens covered with toys, and splendent with wax candles, icicles of glass, and balls of glittering metal. Such are hallowed by our memories of childhood, of parents love, and of friends perhaps no more. Many of us, too, are more or less acquainted with the sombre pines, frs, or spruces, which we adapt to our winter decorations, but few are aware how beautiful they appear in their for est homes.
 To be sure, in summer we cannot but note the contrast between the lively greens of the deciduous trees, with their light and delicate spray, and the darker masses of the coniferous foliage. While ordinary trees, such as the elm, the maple, and the oak allow their prin- cipal stems to dissolve, as it were, into branches, the great pine family, as a rule, subordinate the limbs to the main trunk, and assume 8 pyramidal form. By this habit, and their peculiar fructi- fication, we can always distinguish them, varied as their different forms may be; but it is in winter that they are most noticeable, when they form the only green ornaments which nature retains in her costume. They seem to be given us in order that we may pre- serve our faith in the coming summer, and that we may not become totally disheartened by the storms of winter and isolation.
 It we'll repays one, after snow-storm, to wander in the woods. 1t is there that the evergreens may be seen in their perfection. To the admiring eyes of waking childhood the highly ornament al Christmas tree cannot be more beau tiful. The skeletons of the naples, beeches, and chestnuts, now seem mournful enough; the more so, per haps, from the fact that they still re- tain within their trembling grasp a handful of their summer leaves. But now is the holiday of the evergreens. They wade knee-deep in snow; they catch it as it falls, and weave of it the most wonderful coronets and garlands. If we shake hands with some familiar pine, the crystalized holy water falls upon us like 8 blessing. And how tasteful is the costume of these trees Here is one, radiant with diamonds, defying the imitation of man; while an other, near by, is clothed in bridal pu- rity. As the cool breezes rock them to and fro they join in gladstone snow ball frolie, and pelt each other play fully with the woolly whiteness. Their outline is distinct against the clear blue sky, which, with their concentra- tion of foliage, gives them certain as- pect of majesty.
 The pines, with their feathery foli- age; the stately hemlocks, with their delicate tracery of leaves; the sombre junipers, and the arbor-vite, all pre- sent different forms of beauty, but there are other, humber plants, used in our Christmas decorations, upon which it will be polite to call. We will meet the red berry clusters of the Hex, look ing very precious, where all else seems dark; the caressing Creeping Jenny Ca kind of Lycopodi,tr,a), and the noun tain-laurel. In place of the snowy masses with which the latter beauti6es the month of June, are equally lovely punches of snow-fowers, the souls of the departed still lingering about their earthly homes. We will find the "prince's pine' still retaining it's glossy leaves, and perhaps here and there may gather the red hips of the rose. But all these smaller plants be- long to the summer months, and at this season cannot compare with the knight. ly evergreens-who, all too quickly, wave us their courteous adieu,