QUERCUS 9 



A storm swept over the forest, and veterans 

 brought destruction in their fall. Yet out of 

 calamity came blessing. Quercus bowed his 

 head, but lifted it to light and victory. 



The sun looked through the broken clouds 

 and broken ranks of trees, upon Quercus and 

 Pinus, and asked what were they thinking 

 about? Why weren't they busy? They 

 blinked in the flood of light, hesitated, saw lit- 

 tle strangers at their feet surrender and fall 

 before the sudden onslaught of day; then they 

 took heart and began anew. 



Oh, how Quercus stretched himself! There 

 was that glorious open space above, and he far 

 below, like one in the depth of a valley. 

 Athwart this valley was sapphire sky, atilt 

 for the golden draught of sunlight to pour in. 

 But what was outside this valley, beyond the 

 crowns of the veterans? Quercus longed to 

 know. He tried to stand on tiptoe; he 

 stretched his neck, yet could not see. Others 

 were trying to see, trying to reach that space 

 of blue. He strove to get there first, for the 

 laggards would miss the prize of sunlight on 



