The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1889-09-14
4 Neglected Fear Tree.


Some years ago. while rrsitiif g In the
northeastern part of Massachusetts, |
was the owner of n small aardcn. had
taken much pains Ia improve the coli
diiion and appearance of the place. 4
wcc-ibinc had been carefully trained
upon the front of the little hosA~,,rad.
\ fragrant hone, sncklc supported 10, u
tr.lii, adorned the doorway. A mo,s-
rose. u lowering almond. and Tie lily III
the valley mingled their fragrance la
the breath of morn: and nev-f. In my
estimation at least. did tho Aiih shine
upon u loyriicr SPOT. Tho mornlns hour
was spent In dressing and xepins"
the garden. Its vines wen daily
watched ani CAREFUL, trained II bot-
irrs were free from weeds. Snd the
plants expanded their leaves an,loI~nc,i
their bud, as " smiling ai the at'foach
of the morning run. There vre fruit
trees. too. which had been bis.illii fpm
FAR. and NJ carefully nurtuIft that thry
covered with bloasoms, Sling s.o air
with their fragrance -nd nNsLsti- i-v
-..- .--...ss.'s U.I-~ v dn htrin0b.r hat-
vest.
In one corner of this minia'kf. para.
disc there was u hop.;rcllis: aSi IN the
mlds, of lad II iahsy hard s'cci
small kno,iy crooked pear trcI II lad
stood ihcrr I know no. how sous. II
was Yer, diminuiiyc In sire; bili, like
,iosc cc,laIs which one notices h.h up
the mcnn,e.n Jus; on the bnu,siaiy be-
tween vegetation and eternal lost, II
had every mark %! the d.rt-piiljc d. OF
age. WHY should this tree sisnd here
~ unsishtlS aud uniruiiful! WIZ hal
1t escaped notice - long. l,s baix hal
become bound and cracked; lis caves
were small and cuflci. aud these small
rs they were. were ready 10 he d.tourcd
by host of catsrpillars. wlost pam
pct,d bodies were already grown IA the
/ length -. an inch. The tsndfiis II the
I hop.yinc had cf.pt about its horny
/ limbs. and were weighing dom Its
growth, while the iansy nj IT. roots
drank up the refreshing dew aid shut
out the genial ra,. Ir WAS MO-
LL.rED TREE!
why may no, this tree lie Iruncd 7
| No sooner said Than the small Sw was
taken from its place and the woik CON-
mcnccd. CoMMEScEDy II via hard
to determine where To commcna. Its
knotty branches had grown thi.k and
crooked. and there was scarcely space
to get the saw between them. Tey all
seemed to deserve ampuiation. but then
the tree would have no top. Thi, and
that limb were Topped of rs the case
seemed to demand. The task WAS
neither easy nor pleasant. The hop
vine. however. was removed from Its
boughs. the tansy and weeds from It's
roots. the scales and moss from its bark.
its limbs. and the caterpillars wee sJl
shaken from its leaves. The mold was
looscned and cnrichcd-and tile sun
shonn that day upon u long NEGLECTED,
but now q promising tree. The time
for grating was not yet passed. One
reputcdly skilled in that art was called
to put the new scion upon the old stock
The work was readily undertaken and
speedily accomplished. and the assur-
ance was given that the Bartlett pear.
that prince among the fruits Of New
England. would one day he gathered
from my NEGLECTED TREE.
With what interest ! watched the
buds of the scion. morning after morn.
ing. rs the month grew warmer. and
vegetation all around was bursting into
BIRTH; with what delight did greet the
first opening OF those buds, and how did
I rejoice as the young shoots put forth
and grew into a fresh green top' With
a tender solicitude cherished this tree
for two long summers. On the opening
Of the third my heart was gladdcned
with the sight of its lirst fruit blossoms.
With care were the weeds excluded, the
caterpillars exterminated, the hop-vinc
clipped, the bark rubbed and washed,
the earth manureh and watered. the
time of fruit arrived. The Bartlett pear
was offered In our market, but my
pears were not yet ripe. With anxious
care they at length turned yellow and
looked fair to the sight and tempting to
the taste; and a few friends, who had