HARDWOOD RECORD 



IS 



THl ^W^i«^W(Q ©P TBI P®RIST. 



HA strange silence of expectancy is all about. 



^It is broken at last by a faint sighing sound which hovers above as though the Darkness wei e loath to leave this place of 



coolness and perfume. 



*^From far away comes the crooning sound of a sleepy bird, and after a moment is heard the soft answering call of its mate. 



"{The Darkness seems to realize that his dominion is o'er, hut reluctant still, closer covers tree and bush ivilh his sable mantle. 



Under its pall the Popples become restless and rustle their leaves impatiently, until at length he slowly begins to uncover 



his beloved recesses. 



^Again a bird-note breaks the stillness. This time it has the more insistent melody of waking life; but when the answer 



comes, soft and sweet, it speaks only of love. 



^"Awakef Awake!" call the stately Pines from the eastern horizon. "Behold the Vanguard of the Sun!" It is the 



half-sister of the Darkness who is first to salute the retreating Night. Clad in soft misty gray she co7nes, touching each 



slumbering leaf with her fairy wand. 



%The sombre Hemlocks do not bow their heads, for they disdain welcome except to the Su7i himself. Staunch and upright 



they stand, as though they would be first in worship of the coming Day. The spreading Elms suring out their branches 



as the mist envelops them, and the silver bark of the Birches turns cameleon-like to gray in its embrace. The Beeches 



wave 'welcome and the Basses tip each leaf with dew that will turn to glittering jewels at the Sun's approach. The leaves 



of the Maples dance in anticipation. 



'i\The gray turns to pearl as the Daxim flaunts her draperies of rose above the treetops. Each shimmering leaf trembles 



like a maiden aivaiting her lover. The shadows are fleeing from beneath the densest masses of tree and bush. 



^Suddejily the sky is aflame with crimson and gold; the whole woodland clothes itself in brilliant green! Each tree — 



each limb turns toward the Sun. As he lightly kisses the treetops and then wanders down each tremulous branch, leaves 



that all umvilling have been held by the shadows spring to meet him! 



"ilAll now is life, newly awakened life, sending up the incense of the woods in worship of the coming Day! 



1(T/i.e crystal water of the brook, hidden under sedgy banks, is last to waken and join its rippling laughter to the chorus, 



as the Sun throws great bars of gold into its depths! 



^Every tree holds a bird that lifts its voice to sivell the glad paean! Each fluttering leaf as it is caressed by the balmy breeze 



that wanders in the Morning's ivake becomes vibrant with joy, and the whole woodland grows warm and fragrant under 



the Sun's embrace! 



%The Day has come! The Forest is awake!- — Idah McGlone Gibson. 



