ryhotfirenay,Ithoughtthattheyburnedbetterforthesoaking,asifthepitch,beingconfinedbythewater,burnedlonger,asinalamp.
Gilpin,inhisaccountoftheforestborderersofEngland,saysthat“theencroachmentsoftrespassers,andthehousesandfencesthusraisedonthebordersoftheforest,”were“consideredasgreatnuisancesbytheoldforestlaw,andwereseverelypunishedunderthenameofpurprestures,astendingadterroremferarum—adnocumentumforest?,&c.,”tothefrighteningofthegameandthedetrimentoftheforest.ButIwasinterestedinthepreservationofthevenisonandthevertmorethanthehuntersorwoodchoppers,andasmuchasthoughIhadbeentheLordWardenhimselfandifanypartwasburned,thoughIburneditmyselfbyaccident,Igrievedwithagriefthatlastedlongerandwasmoreinconsolablethanthatoftheproprietorsnay,Igrievedwhenitwascutdownbytheproprietorsthemselves.IwouldthatourfarmerswhentheycutdownaforestfeltsomeofthatawewhichtheoldRomansdidwhentheycametothin,orletinthelightto,aconsecratedgrove(lucumconlucare),thatis,wouldbelievethatitissacredtosomegod.TheRomanmadeanexpiatoryoffering,andprayed,Whatevergodorgoddessthouarttowhomthisgroveissacred,bepropitioustome,myfamily,andchildren,&c.
Itisremarkablewhatavalueisstillputuponwoodeveninthisageandinthisnewcountry,avaluemorepermanentanduniversalthanthatofgold.Afterallourdiscoveriesandinventionsnomanwillgobyapileofwood.ItisasprecioustousasitwastoourSaxonandNormanancestors.Iftheymadetheirbowsofit,wemakeourgun-stocksofit.Michaux,morethanthirtyyearsago,saysthatthepriceofwoodforfuelinNewYorkandPhiladelphia“nearlyequals,andsometimesexceeds,thatofthebestwoodinParis,thoughthisimmensecapitalannuallyrequiresmorethanthreehundredthousandcords,andissurroundedtothedistanceofthreehundredmilesbycultivatedplains.”Inthistownthepriceofwoodrisesalmoststeadily,andtheonlyquestionis,howmuchhigheritistobethisyearthanitwasthelast.Mechanicsandtradesmenwhocomeinpersontotheforestonnoothererrand,aresuretoattendthewoodauction,andevenpayahighpricefortheprivilegeofgleaningafterthewoodchopper.ItisnowmanyyearsthatmenhaveresortedtotheforestforfuelandthematerialsoftheartstheNewEnglanderandtheNewHollander,theParisianandtheCelt,thefarmerandRobinhood,GoodyBlakeandHarryGill,inmostpartsoftheworldtheprinceandthepeasant,thescholarandthesavage,equallyrequirestillafewsticksfromtheforesttowarmthemandcooktheirfood.NeithercouldIdowithoutthem.
Everymanlooksathiswood-pilewithakindofaffection.Ilovetohaveminebeforemywindow,andthemorechipsthebettertoremindmeofmypleasingwork.Ihadanoldaxewhichnobodyclaimed,withwhichbyspellsinwinterdays,onthesunnys