Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-03
The Weeping-WillOw.

You have seen and admired the weeping
willow tree the Salsr babyl0nica upon
which the captive Hebrews hung their harps
when they sat down "by the rivers of Baby
lon " and "wept when they remembered
Zion" 1t is native of the garden OF Eden,
and not of America, and will tell you how
it emigrated to this country. More than
hundred and fifty years ago London mer-
chant lost his fortune. He went to Smyrna,
a seaside city in Asia Minor, to recover it.
Alexander Pope, one of the great poets of
England, was the merchants warm friend,
and sympathized with him in his misfor-
tunes. Soon after the merchant arrived in
Smyrna he sent to Pope, as a present, box
of dried figs. At that time the poet had
built beautiful villa at Twickenham, on
the bank of the river Thames, and was
adorning it with trees, shrubbery, and flower
ing plants. On opening the box of figs Pope
discovered in it small twig of tree. 1t
was stranger to him. AS it came from
the east, he planted the twig in the ground
near the edge of the river, close by his villa
The spot accidentally chosen for the plant
ing was favorable to its growth for the twig
was from a weeping-willow tree-possibly
from the bank Of one of "the rivers Of
Babylon which flourishes best along the
borders Of water-courses. The little twig
grew vigorously, and in few years it be-
came large tree, spreading wide its branches
and dropping, graceful sprays, aud winning
the admiration of the poets friends as well
as of strangers. 1t became the ancestor of
all the weeping-willows in England. There
was rebellion in the English American colo
nies in 1775. British troops were sent to Bos-
ton to put down the insurrection. The
| leaders expected to end it in few weeks
| after their arrival Some young officers
brought fishing-tackle with them, to enable
them to enjoy sport after the brief war
| Others came to settle on the confiscated
lands of the rebels Among the latter
was young officer on the staff of Genera
Howe. He brought with him, wrapped il
oiled silk, twig from Pope's weeping-wil
low at Twickenham, which he intended tt
plant on some stream watering his Ameri
can estate. Washington commanded al
army before Boston, which kept the British
imprisoned in that city long time against
their will On his staff was his step-son
John Parke Custis, who frequently went tt
the British headquarters, under the protec
tion of flag, with dispatches for Genera
Howe. He became acquainted with the
young officer who had the willow twig, anC
| tney DeCdIne lTleuuS. lnSIedu Vi " CTuSulLl
the rebellion in six weeks" the British
army at Boston, at the end of an imprison
ment of nine months, were glad to fly, b,
sea, for life and liberty, to Halifax. LonI
before that fight, the British subaltern, sal
istied that he should never have an estat
in America to adorn, gave his carefully pre-
served willow twig TO young Curtis, VIII
planted it at Abingdon, his estate in Vii
ginia, where it grew and flourished, and bt
came the parent of all the weepingwillow
in the United States. Some time after tn
war, General Horatio Gates, of the revolt
ton, settled on the Rose Hill Farm" o
New York Island, and at the entrance to
lane which led from country road to hi
house he planted twig from the vigorou
willow at Abingdon, which he had brougt
with him. That country road is now tn
Third Avenue, and the lane is Twenty
Second street, and Second Avenue, where
} saw it consumed by fire in 1Si5. The tree
which grew from the .twig planted at tn
entrance to Gates lane remained until con
paratively few years ago. 1t stood on th
northeast corner of Third Avenue an
Twenty-second street. 1t was a direct d,
scendant, in the third generation, of Pope
! willow, planted at Twickenham about l72.
-Hdrper'S Young People.