66 FOREST FANCIES 



**What beautiful bangles!" was Polly's 

 thought. 



The bee now flew down to the brook, where 

 the white birch, veiling her pearly bark in 

 green, was swinging her tassels of bronze and 

 gold and studding her branches with emerald 

 pins. 



^^Oh, the pretty, pretty birch," bubbled 

 Polly, *'how modestly she bends her head." 



'^Gazing at her reflection in the water," re- 

 marked her friend, turning to the silvery 

 beauty of the beech tree. 



The beech was unfurling her silky fans from 

 their tortoiseshell cases and pricking her fluffy 

 balls with green. 



^*I came near forgetting this," she said, 

 tucking a little nut-flower near the tip of a 

 branch. 



**We are so glad that Easter is late this 

 year," said the ash trees, putting on their 

 green and purple plumes. 



*^ However, I had to hurry more than usual,'* 

 exclaimed the white oak, *^in order to take 

 charge of the services,'^ 



