A PRAYER-BOOK IN A TREE’S HEART

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2183, 17 March 1880, Page 3

A PRAYER-BOOK IN A TREE’S HEART

A correspondent of the Cincinnati “ Gazette,” writing from Elton, Ohio, says:—“Recently Nelson Davis, of West Alexandria, this county, cut down an oak tree about six feet in circumference, in the centre of which was a cavity about seven inches square, partly filled with some rotten kind of wood and a roll of cloth, which crumbled when touched. Inside of all was a German Catholic Prayer-book, bound in leather, and much worn. The book was printed in 1726, and had a Latin introduction, while some of the blank leaves are filled with writings in French, part of which is unintelligible, but enough is easily r read to show that the owner was a French soldier, tells what battalion, and mentions the name of one of the officers as De La Magne. It may be of interest to members of the Historical Society. The growth at least five inches over the hole where it had been slipped and hermetically sealed, preserved the book. It is now in the hands of \V. C. Barnhart at his hook store in this place, and is regarded by all as a great curiosity.”