46 



THE TREES AND THE SEASONS 



(For four little girls or two little girls and two little boys; if possible have the first 

 dressed in green, the second in yellow, the third in brown and the last one in white, 

 each carrying a wreath or branch typical of the season mentioned. L. C.) 



First Child 



I love a tree in spring 

 When the first green leaves come out 

 And the birds build their nests and carol 

 Their sweet songs round about. 



Second Child 



I love a tree in summer, i 



WheH in the noontide heat, 



The reapers lie in its shadow 



On the greensward cool and sweet. 



Third Child 



I love a tree in autumn, 



When Frost, the painter old, 



Has touched with his brush its branches, 



And left them all crimson and gold. 



Fourth Child 



I love a tree in winter, 

 Mid snow and ice and cloud, 

 Waving its long, bare branches, 

 In the north wind, wailing loud. 



All- 

 Let us plant a tree by the wayside, 

 Plant it with smiles and with tears, 

 A shade for some weary wanderer, 

 A hope for the coming years. 



A WONDERFUL TREE 



Did you ever hear of a tree bearing glue, towels, cloth, tinder and 

 bread? There is just such a wonder; it is found on the Pacific Islands, 

 and is called the bread fruit tree. 



It is about as tall as a three-story house, and the branches come out 

 straight from the tree like so many arms. They are covered with leaves 

 nearly two feet long and deeply gashed at the edges, while half hidden 

 among them are the fruits, growing like apples on short stems, but 

 larger and having a thick, yellow rind. 



This fruit is like bread, and it is in season during eight months of 

 the year, the natives finding a good living in it. They gather it while 

 it is green, and bake it in an oven. Scraping off its outer blackened 

 crust, they come to the loaf, which is very much like nice white bread; 

 but it must be eaten soon after baking, else it grows harsh and loses its 

 pleasant taste. 



