. Sights in Boston and suburbs, or, Guide to the stranger . There was once a powder magazine near this tree, onthe little hill at whose foot it stands. This hill, also, dur-ing the siege of Boston, was the site of a British fortifica-tion, bombarded by Washington. TUK GREAT ELM. 73 In the war of 1812 its existence was endangered by theencampment around it of American troops, destined toprotect the town. It has often been exposed to injury bythe custom of hanging and burning effigies upon its giantbranches; and many turbulent occasions, on Election andIndependence days, have exposed the tree to
. Sights in Boston and suburbs, or, Guide to the stranger . There was once a powder magazine near this tree, onthe little hill at whose foot it stands. This hill, also, dur-ing the siege of Boston, was the site of a British fortifica-tion, bombarded by Washington. TUK GREAT ELM. 73 In the war of 1812 its existence was endangered by theencampment around it of American troops, destined toprotect the town. It has often been exposed to injury bythe custom of hanging and burning effigies upon its giantbranches; and many turbulent occasions, on Election andIndependence days, have exposed the tree to WINTER ELM. Severe tempests have at times threatened to annihilatethis tree; and in 1831 or 1832 a violent storm separatedfour of its large limbs, and so far detached them that theyrested partially upon the ground. They were raised andbolted together; the bolts are still \dsible, and the branches,7 74 BOSTON SICxHTS. at the end of twenty-five years, appear to be perfectlyunited. For many years the interior of the trunk was rotten,and much of it had disappeared, from neglect; but finallythe spirit of improvement, which came upon the Common,extended to the great tree, and the edges of the aperturewere protected, and the exterior covered by canvas. Theparts have thus been regenerated, and the opening filledand obhterated. Notwithstanding the years that have rolled over theveteran colossus, it still presents an aspect of gi^andeurwhich will ever be the admiration of the beholder. remarks, in his book upon the Great Tree, — This tree, therefore, we must venerate as a visiblerel
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookidsightsinbost, bookyear1856
