The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-10-08
Our Family Tree.

just a pleasant TluC from tue my U
Oaks" on our Lebanon farm, stands a
form the versnda door. Grey with
noss aud years. oi:en II reminds u OF
the big trees Of California. for it now
measures thirty seven feet 10 clrcUmfer
ence, and Is So hospitable that several
hundred persons may enjoy Its cool shade
al once.
Oh, the delicious melons aud other
Injuries we have enjoyed under tbs
tree. Well do We remember, that on
every year, grandfather anniversary wa
a perfect carnival of pleasure. HIS sons
and his daughters, his grand children
and his nelghbors, all came to enjoy this
dining with him, and young and old and
ed 10 celebrating my grand-fathcr's birth
day festival.
This mammoth specimen Of the vege-
table kingdom is an object OF more admir-
ration and interrogation than perhaps a
half dozen exotic trees that may be ex-
hibited at u State Exposition. It's
neighboring elms and cedars vie with it
10 casting shadows. aud from their euor
nous sizes and great beauty the farm
derives It's name.
Under one of these, to the west, is cur
fountain Of excellent water, which, a. 1t
rises 10 the odd Oaken Bucket, Is
sweetcr than nectar, so cheering to the
thirsty, aud life giving to the invalid.
Adjoining these are extensive belds OF
waving corn and blooming cotton, and
our garden of luxuriant vegetables, and
In front a rare selection OF Flora :
gems whose bright coIors and fragrant
c~orolles are often the topic OF 'passer-
BY" Around these is a large orchard
of choice fruit, adapted to the varied
tastes, not only Of the family but ct every
intruder. When Gen. Sherman led HI,
mighty army through our troubled land
and Fitzpatrick applied the torch on every
side, right under the shade OF this tree
his greedy followers perched themselve
and wrapped our Carolina hams and
other stolen treasures. II the people OF
olden times were as foEd Of spending
their golden moments in enjoying picnics
as they have been for the past few years,
why then we imagine this was, Oh such
occasions, a great place OF rendezvous.
Four generations have been brought
UP under the outstretched arms of this
towering monarch. In our antique man
sion. erected about the time that Mar
quls De Lafayette was entertained IN
Herttord SO warmly, here lived and mov
ed our ancestral kin.
Several of these, buoyant with hope,
sought their fortunes in other lands be
yond the mighty Mississippi. While
others of them, chat grew up with thi>
tree when a sapling, fought the good
fight" flushed their earthly careers and
now have their angel plumage' On. Ia
the green foliage of this tree, the merry
hooking bird repeats his variations,
while prattling children play around its
trunk.
Some of its gnarled roots furnish ru>
raj vases for the reception OF petted low
ers, IN them they grow and thrive, and
seem as atfectionate as parent and child.
The chime of neighboring farm b lis.
echoes through its leaves. as the tiny
humming-bird finds his dainty dinner in
the ''Mimosa blossoms near.
From the grassy carpet spread underneath,
when the twinkling st yrs peep through tue dan p,
And the Il ATTY dds ale heard to sig.
Myriads of ~are-uies, iisAt their evening lam e,
And sail away on thoir wing.
Is not this tree our observatory fl, III
which We can decry the different %conste.-
iatiDns. Pleiades, HiadeS, beautiful Scor-
pic. and brilliant Orion? In them An
tares and betelgueso are indeed conspic-
uouS stars. In the back ground rolls
the turbid creek, toaming, frothing and
falling, so very unlike our own French
Broad" The putting trains bring many
tourists from various sections, who ad-
mire this family tree. They scan it from
the earth towards the sky. learn its age,
and gaze at the huge oak"
Storms of ages have gathered DER this
tree top, the vivid l~ightnings flushed
through its boughs, and the ,hunders of
heaven have shaken the earth around !;
yet it stands a living monument |! 1t is
our Drudic altar, where in the calm Of
night when the busy world is still, We
iinger to commune in secret, and to ask
for pure hearts. and invoke temporal
and spiritual blessings of the great Il
AMI W. IN Durham Reporter.