HEART OF OAK

It's 1660 and after the death of the puritan tyrant Cromwell the monarchy has been restored under Charles the II.
In the south of England the summer is fading as the land is hastened into autumn.
Jay and squirrels compete in the oak forests for the acorns both burying them in the rich earth in store for the winter ahead.

"It's cold, very cold and wet" It said to itself "and I can't see anything."

This went on for some time although how much time it was unable to say as it had no means by which to measure.
On some days it was impossible to move as the penetrating cold held it vice like.
On others it is awash and almost floating.
Then things felt different it was warmer and it was changing a most peculiar feeling came over it.
There was a tearing sensation and it was moving upwards and it was getting warmer and warmer.
All of a sudden it wasn't dark anymore.
The acorn had burst forth from the rich earth as a seedling oak.
The seedling felt fantastic and the feelings it was experiencing were like no others it had ever felt before.
Then came the time to survey its new surroundings it was in an open space surrounded by huge oak trees one of which had produced the acorn from which it emerged.
The ground was dappled with golden patches which moved from place to place.
Beyond the huge oaks were more open spaces and more mighty oaks as far as it could see.
In the other open spaces there were more seedlings also taking in their new situations.
But apart from the trees there were creatures of various shapes and sizes some small things with lots of legs too large four legged creatures and other that flew in the air.
Some creatures actually eat the smaller ones.
The very big creatures occasionally trampled the tiny seedlings it was not looking forward to that.
On the whole the seedling thought its new situation was very nice indeed.
However it had not yet experienced rain, hail, wind, fog, and frost snow.

Its now 1760 and mad King George III takes to the throne where he remains for sixty years.

The seedling is now a strong young oak, young and in it prime and does not fear the trampling beasts of the forest.
Its view is still restricted to the surrounding Oaks and clearings although he now towers over the latest crop of seedlings.
Some of the once mighty oaks lay broken on the ground brought down by a combination of age and wind or the weight of snow.
These are now the habitat of the many legged creatures.

1860 and

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