Toy, near Hampton-court, being much decayed, some trees were
wanted for the repairs that were fifty feet long without bough, and
would measure twelve inches diameter at the little end. Twenty
such trees did a purveyor find in this little wood, with this
advantage, that many of them answered the description at sixty
feet. These trees were sold for twenty pounds apiece.

In the centre of this grove there stood an oak, which, though
shapely and tall on the whole, bulged out into a large excrescence
about the middle of the stem. On this a pair of ravens had fixed
their residence for such a series of years, that the oak was
distinguished by the title of the Raven-tree. Many were the
attempts of the neighbouring youths to get at this eyry: the
difficulty whetted their inclinations, and each was ambitious of
surmounting the arduous task. But, when they arrived at the
swelling, it jutted out so in their way, and was so far beyond their
grasp, that the most daring lads were awed, and acknowledged the
undertaking to be too hazardous. So the ravens built on, nest upon
nest, in perfect security, till the fatal day arrived in which the wood
was to be levelled. It was in the month of February, when those
birds usually sit. The saw was applied to the butt, the wedges were
inserted into the opening, the woods echoed to the heavy blows of
the beetle or mallet, the tree nodded to its fall; but still the dam sat
on. At last, when it gave way, the bird was flung from her nest;
and, though her parental affection deserved a better fate, was
whipped down by the twigs, which brought her dead to the ground.



Letter III