14 FOREST FANCIES 



ground black and dry ; and the red mane had 

 rubbed against Pinus and left a scar. 



As in the soul of Man, where the weak spot 

 is, there evil enters, so disease came to Pinus 

 through his wound. He weakened with the 

 years, and failed to claim his birthright of two 

 centuries or more. 



Once, years past, men had entered the for- 

 est with sharp saws and cut down and carried 

 off some of the largest trees. Quercus often 

 wondered whither these trees had gone, and 

 one day asked the wind. 



**They went to the mill," replied the wind, 

 "to be sliced into boards and shipped into 

 towns.'' 



"And then?" 



"The boards were made into things useful 

 to Man ; for Man wants a great many things, 

 without which he thinks he cannot be comfort- 

 able or happy." 



"What does Man make out of our wood?" 

 asked Quercus. 



"Ships that float on the water, bridges so 

 that he can walk over the water, carriages in 



