QUERCUS ALBA 



from ages of decaying leaves ; every 

 mineral salt that baby trees de- 

 mand was present in abundance. 

 As certainly as though they were 

 human and the favored offspring of 

 the rich, the world their world- 

 was theirs for the taking; and one 

 and all they prospered and grew 

 until, with the coming of Autumn, 

 the plateau was a mat of green 

 with their shoots. 



Until frosts came upon the land 



they were alone and unmolested, 



18 



