THE LINDEN-TREE 77 



When Nils studied for the priesthood and 

 looked for a surname, the linden-tree named 

 him Linnaeus. There was another linden fam- 

 ily name — Lindelius. The linden-tree had 

 three branches, one for each linden name, and 

 it was said that when the last male heir to each 

 name died, one branch withered and was no 

 more. 



The day that the linden named young Nils 

 was a proud day for the old tree. Yet what 

 was the message that the linden had given 

 Ingemar 's daughter ? She was a mother now ; 

 and her son heard the same faint message, 

 wondering what the linden-tree's meaning to 

 the family was, beyond a name. 



There was a beautiful garden at the parson- 

 age of Sven Tiliander, where Nils studied with 

 his cousins, and when Nils was pastor at 

 Rashult he also had a garden of wonderful 

 plants. His young wife, Christina, from the 

 barren north, dearly loved these southern flow- 

 ers, and eagerly welcomed signs of spring. 



Meanwhile the old homestead linden was 

 opening coral buds and unfolding emerald 



