National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-12-19
JOB PRINTING
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
noto 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, rs it W te, into
branches, the great pine family, as n
rule, subordinate the limbs to the main
trunk, and assume a'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.
1t well repays one, after a 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
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 blessing. And how
tasteful is the costume Of these trees
Here is one, radiant with diamonds,
defying the imitation of man; while an
ooueI, utdi W, 10 ciotuci III DLiu"i Pu-
rity. AS the cool breezes rock them
to and fro they join in gladstone snow
ball froie, and pelt each other play
fully with the woolly whiteness. Their
outline is distinct against the clear
blue sky. which, with their concenlra'
ton of foliage, gives them certain as
pect OF majesty.
The pines, with their feathery foli-
age; the stately hemlocks, with their
delicate tracory of leaves; the sombre
jumpers, 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
he red berry-clusters of the lick, look
ng very precious, where all else seems
lark; the caressing Creeping Jenny
a kind of Lycopodiun,), and the noun
ain-laurel. In place of the snowy
masses with which the latter beauties
he month of June, are equally lovely
punches of snow-fowers, the souls of
he departed still lingering about their
earthly homes. We will find the
princes pine" still retaining its
ylossy leaves, and perhaps here and
here may gather the red hips of the
ose. But all these smaller plants be-
ong to the summer months, and at this
eason cannot compare with the knight
y evergreens-w who, all too quickly,
rave us their courteous adieu.