Among the Trees at Elmridge

st the middle of April, and Miss Harson had taken her little flock to visit an apple-orchard at

it is!" said Malcolm as h

tle nose to get the full benefit of all this fr

ot think to say it in that way. Get all you can of this deliciousn

the orchard, came up with a knife in his hand and began cutting off

n engage that my little friends will do no injury, and I particularly wished the

think, myself, it's a pretty sight. Smells good, too. Now, here's a no

called "Bub" that he almost forgot the farmer's generosity; but his g

ver, was ra

he, "to cut off flowers from frui

ee to make good apples, and there's plenty to spare yet." He was very much amused at the little girl's serious face over this wholesale destruction of infant apples, and he

ed very inviting. She was as pleasant and hospitable as her husband, and after shaking up a funny-looking patchwork cushion in a rocking-chair for the young

urned carrying in each hand a small flat footstool. The girls sat down very carefully, for they were not accustomed to such low seats; but the whole party were tired with

hen fire was very comfortable; and, as t

produced, and Edith thought them the most delightful little cakes she had ever tasted. Clara and Malcolm, too, were quite hungry, and Miss Harson enjoyed her glass of milk and seed-cake as well as did the you

know now where to come when you want

owers which Mr. Grove piled up in his arms, and

hink we may be able to keep them for some days.--What would you say, Edith, if I told you that people cut off not on

en could not understand why all the fruit that

or quality; and those who understand fruit-raising thin it out, so that the tree may not have more fruit than

n they were gathered for the talk. "I think that kitchens

out the crickets at first. I thought we'd have t

augh at? The little girl thought she had a very funny bro

know, Clara, why you thought Mrs. Grove's kitchen so pleasant? It is larger and better furnished than kitchens usually are, there were pleasant people in it, and you were tired and hungry and ready to enjoy rest and refreshments; but I am

heir hands; and Malcolm added that he "would

one of the very earliest trees planted in this country by the settlers, because it is both hardy and useful. There is a wild species called the Virginia crab-apple, which bears beautiful pink flower

"at these lovely half-open buds! They

and then Edith had to come too; and Malcolm declare

er-worm also, in a measure, abandoned the elm to feed on it. As it grew apace the bluebird, robin, cherry-bird, king-bird, and many more, came with haste and built their nests and warbled in its boughs, and so became orchard-birds and multiplied more than ever. It was an era in the history of their race in America. The downy woodpecker found such a savory morsel under its bark that he perforated it in a ring quite round the tree before he left it. It did not take the partridge long to find out how sweet its buds were, and every winter eve she flew, and still flies, from the wood to pluck them,

its sturdy outline, but it is less graceful or picturesque-looking, being often broader than it is high and resembling in shape a half globe. The leaves are not pretty except when first unfolded, and their color is then a beautiful light tint known as apple-green. But the fo

ngs to the rose family, for now the de

re prettier y

e's anything I li

for your good," replied his governess; "I

" was the modest reply, "and t

would soon make an apple-famine in most places. Three apples a day must be your allowa

med little Edith, "and we don't

Blos

sense in eating 'em.--But I'll remember, Miss Harso

, was so doleful that every one laugh

liked by almost every one. They are a very wholesome fruit and nearly as valuable as bread and potatoes for food, becaus

e out of my hand when I go to

ed in her shoes whenever she offered thes

e on such a feat yet, and the

thee, O king, from the dew of heaven and the fatness of the earth, abundance of corn and wine and oil! Be thou the lord of thy brothers, and let the sons of thy mother bow down before thee. Let the people serve thee and the tribes adore thee. May the Almighty bless thee with the blessings of heaven above, and the mountains and the valleys with the blessings of the deep below, with the blessings

id Clara, and Malcolm expressed a desire to hire himse

even women and children are there with baskets and aprons spread out to catch the fruit; and they run back and forth wherever the apples fall thickest, with much laughter at the unexpected showers that come down upon their heads and necks. Large baskets filled wi

PLE-HA

eemed to have come to an end, "isn't ther

book, some queer superstitions about apple trees in England, and here is a strange

filled with cider and tastefully decorated with holly-branches; and when every one has advanced about ten paces from the choicest tree, rustic pipes made from the hollow boughs of elder are played upon by young men, while Echo repeats the strain, and it s

o thee, old

yest th

blow, and ripen the

bo

ll can of

ee, be

e and warm thee a

goldfinch-

orchard

the blossoms that

who enjoyed the account as much as the other

that this attention would be sure to bring a fine crop of apples. We are distinctly told, though, that 'it is God that giveth the increase;' and to him alone belong the fruits of the earth. So

h. "Does the apple tree m

opped up with long poles to keep them from breaking. There is another strange custom, which used to be practiced on New Year's eve. It was called 'Apple-Howling,' and a t

t, root! be

d us a good

wig, ap

ugh, app

ees were well rapped with the sticks which they carried. This ceremony is thought to h

Miss Harson?" asked Clara.

ression sometimes used, 'howling with delight.' We hear more commonly of 'howling with pai

d Edith, who began to think that there were m

er a sly pinch; but Edith did not mind his pinches

harges broke themselves of it the better she should like it. Clara and Edith both promised to try--just as they had promised befo

where in the Bible?" aske

hinking, but nothing came of

lara, and find the twenty-fifth

ad very

es of gold in pictures of silver.'

lasting as golden apples framed in silver. The apple tree is mentioned in Joel, where it is said that 'all the trees of the field are withered[12],' and both apple trees and apples are mentioned

on renders the phrase

Joel

they felt that the fruit which they were so accusto