THE ROSE TREE. AMIDST the unbounded fragrance and beauty which the bounteous hand of our heavenly Father has given to the vegetable world, it is oftentimes difficult to determine which, among many trees and shrubs growing together, is the most delightful and attractive; but though many trees vie with each other, the Rose tree seems, by one common consent, to be esteemed the most lovely. Take twenty persons, young or old, into a garden, and all of them will agree that Amid the trees, the flower that grows Our English rose tree, however, is on a very small scale compared with the rose tree of the East. This latter tree springs up to the height of fourteen feet, and spreads out its branches widely, richly laden with the most lovely flowers. The rose of Sharon and that of Damascus are the favourites of eastern nations. The elegance of those trees, and the loveliness and fragrance of their beautiful flowers, rendered still more attractive by the songs of the nightingales that love to warble among them, are beyond the powers of description. The expression in the sacred Scriptures, "I am the Rose of Sharon," Sol. Song ii. 1, whether applied to the Redeemer or to his church, is strikingly appropriate; and the spread of the glorious gospel of Christ is beautifully illustrated by the words, "The desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose," Isa. xxxv. 1. You have now had a rapid description of the principal trees that you are likely to see or hear of: let an extension of knowledge, then, be attended with an 120 A RAMBLE IN THE WOODS. increase of reverence and gratitude for Him, who, Great, and wise, and gracious, showers Who spreads the earth with fragrant flowers, But while we regard the trees of the field, and gaze with wonder on their towering, bulky stems and wide-spread branches ; while we admire their majesty, strength, elegance, beauty, fragrance, and fertility; let us especially be mindful to follow after the things which belong to our peace, to taste of the "Tree of life," and to be the lowly followers of Jesus Christ, "who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness by whose stripes we are healed," 1 Pet. ii. 24. : THE END. J. Hill, Printer, Black Horse Court, Fleet Street. |