QUERCUS 19 



Night after night I would hold him in my arms 

 and teach him these things.'' 



They were silent as the monarch paused. 



*^May your wishes come true, dear chil- 

 dren of the forest!" whispered the wind, 

 touching them lightly at parting. 



Quercus thoughtfully sheltered the birds, 

 gave food to the squirrels, offered a staff to 

 the struggling ivy, and a home to myriad small 

 creatures. 



'^Should Man never need me, is this all there 

 is for me to do?" he asked the wind one day. 



*'Look high over the other trees," replied 

 the wind; ^^see the streams winding through 

 the land, with water for stock and city, mill 

 and ship. How finely the green hills slope to 

 the valley, fruitful and populous! You and 

 your brothers and sisters are the bulwark of 

 safety about this smiling land. Your roots 

 bind the soil upon the hillside, and under the 

 forest floor is a hidden well of rain, from which 

 the springs forever fill their overflowing ves- 

 sels. So the good streams bless you for life, 

 and Man blesses you for his prosperity." 



