closet and pantry, was upset. The clotlies-line swing still hung from a 

 lower limb, but the notched board used as a seat was gone. When the 

 sharp rays of the midsummer sun came down, the wide branches of the 

 tree gave a cool protecting shade. While the children had their frol- 

 ics their bickerings, and " making up," the old tree was hard at work. 

 Every hour of the twenty-four, day in and day out, week in and 

 weekout, it worked, not even having a picnic on the Fourth of July. 



When you go to a factory and hear the noise of the machinery 

 and see the whirling wheels, and gliding belts, and the army of 

 employees moving briskly about like ants, you think that it is a busy 

 place. Perhaps you are shown the unattractive raw material on 

 one side of the factory and the finished product on tlie other, and 

 you think what wonderful changes have been made. 



The tree has been just as busy a place during all the long summer 

 days. I doubt if the tallest Junior Naturalist could lift and carry 

 the product it has manufactured during that time — I mean the 

 new wood and foliage that has grown since spring. 



The idea that a tree works may be a new one to you ; and if so, 

 it is because the tree has made no noise while at work, and you have 

 not yet learned to listen with your eyes. I wish you to look upon 

 this tree as a real living thing having life like yourself, and having 

 a care for its future welfare. It can tell a story about itself that is 

 just as interesting as any old soldier or sailor can tell. When you 

 have made its acquaintance and listened to its story, I am sure that 

 you and the old apple tree will be the best of friends ever after. 



It was raining when I entered the orchard. The drops fell thick 

 and fast, and as some struck pools of water there splashed up cup- 

 shaped waves that settled back in expanding rings. I saw that the 

 tree was no longer at work, but had gone into a profound sleep from 

 which it will not awaken until the warm days of spring. Plain for 

 all eyes to see, however, was the finished product, and I wondered 

 how many of my boys and girls would appreciate the skill shown in 

 the workmanship. 



There is a great principle in nature which I wish to impress upon 

 your minds. I hope you will learn it, for if you do you will be 

 able to see tlie reason for many things when you listen wnth your 



586 



