20 FOREST FANCIES 



Quercus saw the browsing cattle, the fields 

 of shining grain, the bending orchard boughs, 

 and said, '*I would remain here to the end of 

 my days." 



^'Look,'' said the wind, inclining the oak's 

 head. 



And Quercus saw the young trees struggling 

 for life. 



' ' In time you must die, ' ' said the wind. ' ' If 

 then your children are dead, who will take 

 your place in the forest?" 



Quercus was silent. 



The following day men came with sharp 

 saws, as strong as the teeth of the storm. Quer- 

 cus, looking down at Alba, his offspring, be- 

 ginning to falter in the mighty and everlasting 

 struggle for existence, said, *' ^A life for a 

 life,' " and offered himself up to the teeth of 

 the saw. 



And when he, the monarch, had fallen, and 

 they had stripped the crown from his head 

 and borne him away, the forest became silent ; 

 the birds gazed questioningly at the vacant 

 throne, the squirrels glanced timorously at the 



