Smyrna times., 1895-10-02
The big Oak" DESTROYED.

what has been known for wears and
possibly centuries as the "Big Oak {,
on the state road, % miles from town.
Is virtually no more, and all that now
remains of this old and familiar land
mark is the shell of the once sturdy
trunk. The tree has been sbowin@
signs of decay for number of vears
Inc severe eastern storms of last win.
Ter mad telling effect on its feeble
branches, and little by little the
branches have been blown off until
recently the growth has been onlv on
the sides, the top having almost disar.
peared. Last week some bows ia chas-
ing snakes out of the somewhat
hollow trunk, set fire to the tree and
IN snort while the core was burned
out, leaving nothing but the she'll
Inc top was burned off and what little
NE the tree had is now totally extinct
IL Is with some feeling of regret that
this old land mark should TINS he
treated. 1t has been marked feature
on this road from the time it was first
laid out as the Kings Highway" and
tnrOugh all the years since, it has been
Veheratlon to persons travelling on
the main road.
by request we re-publish the follow
ing ode by R. G.. Derlit. which an
peared IN the issue of the TIMES. Jan.
II, 1878. '""'
THE big OAK"
ol9 oak, how grave thou standest there alone
NJ NO conlIade near to shield thy aged brr0st
moan "daT'S "lhus which round thee sigh and
VI ehlillng SHOWS that on thy branches rest.
And as gaze upon thy stalwart form
~ u m carried back to days long since gopa rost
TH Ad tou t ulust INST encounter the rude storm
ana Dend thy head beneath the wintry blast
Long centuries since then have rolled away
ana strength with years has graced thy trunk
Forests have risen and have seen decov
nut Ihou' SO favored hast outlived them all.
on, what tale thy ancient head could tell
Gould thou but speak what happened by tbv
side; ~ my
Not only things to which to thy race befell.
but tales OF men who rOamed the forest wide
How in thy youth the red man watched tbv t,yie,
anu cnerShed thee through many weary
And saw thee grow so sturdy and so biz
lhat lhuiah lovers did thy shade revere
How by thee too, the bold red warrior stood
Vt loVed beneath thy ample shade to walk
Vt roamed the woods to seek his daily food
"+'NiJ swung lHe dreadful tOmahaWk.
sped Oe Oe"'ui'es
uRtll The white man looked upon thee first.
fed ''N man 4ulcAIy
Far from thy side where cherished hopes were
nursed. FS9 "0i9
les, from thy side to prairies far away
c,H 1auu never more beneath thy spreading bOughs
onaII m Ildlan children wildly friSk and Dlay.
VI AHuIaH lovers interchange their vows
AlotneT race now moves around thy side
al anu 3ther lovers meath thy branches VOW
wide, u0eP anu
The farmer guides the cutivating plow.
Ana soon we too shall look on thee no more
,r,1 TOT we shall sleep with ages that are gone;
men Othtr eyes shall scan thy visage O er
AS passing years glide silently on
But oh see Times hand is writing
, Inc turrowed grooves upon thy AGED sida.
me wrinkles deep are scattered o'eT INV hro,0
Ana grim decay within thy boughs abide
lew snort years and 10, thou too shalt 90
Ihou silent watcher through the centliTies mast.
sumo eve snail see thee stand before the foe i'
Inc morn shall find thee leveled by the blast |
bGt VIII thou not stand up on that great dav
. III inlust OF those who by thy side have trOd
a MitheSS bold against the great array
VI those VINO have despised the law of God?