The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-10-15

to branch, and catch fruit tossed from one bough to another.
 The hand that created the banian tree also created the lily, buttercup and violets, and the smallest plants that come to perfection from the soil. Eve ry part of the earth Is rich, and wher- ever land is found 1t is covered with vegetation, flowers, herbs, shrubs, vines and trees, in multitudes of fruit, ber- ries and vegetable productions. Ma ture has lavished her love and skill upon all things that can protect and nourish either animal or human life The great varieties of fruit trees in the old world and other nobler trees and their physical development, vitality and utility as lumber were made sub jects of great interest all along the ages. There has always been a strange and solemn interest connected with the forests of the old world. Nothing in na- ture seems half so beautiful Nothing in all her vast kingdoms more grand and profoundly awe-inspiring than those ancient forests.
 The mountain peaks may resemble vast altars in the great eternal temples of the universe, but the beauty of the endless hills covered with trees as they stretched away toward the dim horizon of time, to the very dawn of creation seems to be like a royal army clad in living green, or like the uncovered heads of a long line of ancient prophets awaiting their eternal crowning. And were it not for the veil of living green, that hangs so low over those vast cle- vations in the shape of sweeping branches of the cedars and mountain pines, and other herbage and trees scattered over the gray peaks, and even down to their very feet, one would dream that time had called back the tide of centuries, and those forests were the original growth of the sacred Gar | den of Paradise.
 Beneath those ancient forests of the old world the children of Israel found rest and shelter so much needed in | their long march to the Promised Land. They found shelter from the burning sands. The forests and the trees of the wilderness formed a protection over them. Beneath the shelter of the palm, cedar, pine and the far stretching l branches of oak and maple, there they l pitched their tents And 1t was a | blessing for them after wearily climb | ing the hills of Idumaea to find at twi- | light, shelter and rest beneath the fair | trees of the wilderness. And as they pursued the three long years of desert | journey, how cheering and vitalizing were the cool forest shades, and when the people grumbled as the sun cast its hllr-rirp | tents of the homesick, discouraged l tribes, the forest trees were like com panions offering through swaying | branches and quivering leaves more than human sympathy. There in the softening haze of approaching evening the Great Leader called his people to- | gether, and beneath the forest trees | told them of the rest and peace of the pure and fruitful
 | Under the grand law of progression and ascension which inclines all things | in nature to aspire, and reach the most lofty state of perfection, the tall old forest trees seem to look upward to the
 archways of the bending skies. High
 CT and still higher is the cry of cedar l and pines, and also of all creeping and | climbing vines There are many in structing traditions of the old world forests which historians and scriptural authors did not see fit 10 record in their | most inspired writings Everything fashioned by Divinity seemed to be re- l membered by them except the beauty | and influence of the forests Did they not see the beauty of the trees and con- meet them with the hand of Divinity? ? 1 The naturalist of modern times sees in the luyuriant growth of the forests and
 all vegetation, and especially the vines
 that garland the trees and rocks, that
 the law of nature has an infinite and perfect Correspondence with everything
 created-earth, sky and ocean are con-
 trolled by nature. The hoary rocks | "steadfast and ancient as the sun" are
 complete testimonies of the vital forces ] of nature They show the footprints
 of the ages, and so do the ancient for
 ests of Asia, Persia and the nations of | the far north. It is 8 peculiar and in-
 teresting fact that some of the smaller
 insect species seek their dwelling places
 in the trees. They have intelligence
 and settled purpose in so doing Ev-
 cry little place is occupied and under every little leaflet some family of the | insect tribe forms a homestead, and if | they descend to the earth to find their | food and nourishment in the produc-
 tions of the soil, they climb back to
 their safe shelter for the night How
 tenderly and beautifully God shelters
 His own. AMOS D. SMITH, Sd.