104 How to Know the Trees 



windstorms that sweep across the plains. The 

 few springs of water are many miles apart. 



On great deserts there are occasional green 

 places where the traveler may rest and quench 

 his thirst. These places are called "oases." The 

 passers-by, tired from a hard day's travel, eagerly 

 watch for the little clump of trees on the sky- 

 line where they may obtain rest and refresh- 

 ment. In such places the few trees are loved and 

 appreciated. 



We, with so many trees, should be thankful 

 for them. With the changing of the seasons there 

 is always something new to interest and delight 

 us in the trees around us. In spring they put on 

 their new coats which are bright green in color 

 until the summer's heat gives them a darker hue. 

 With the frosts of autumn they change again, 

 and the wooded hillsides are beautiful with their 

 many-colored leaves. At last the leaves fall, and 

 then we can better see how the trees themselves 

 look. Their forms are plainly to be seen, and 

 each looks different from its neighbor. 



Winter over, the coming of the first small 

 pussy willows warns us again that spring is on 

 the way. Then it is that we like to get away from 



