102 FOREST FANCIES 



Though the young man was a pioet, he could 

 not understand the language of a tree ; yet in 

 his soul he felt her gentle reproof and hastened 

 his lagging steps. 



'^Come, rest under my branches," she whis- 

 .pered. 



And this he did, and for a long while stood 

 gazing through the evergreen forest to the far 

 mountain. 



^^How fast the trees are hurrying," said he, 

 * * out into the world 1 " 



^^What will the trees do out in the world?" 

 asked the spruce tree eagerly. 



Still musingly he continued, *^They will bear 

 news to the homes of men; I would they might 

 bear my message to the hearts of menl" 



**Do spruce trees bear news and messages 

 as well as cones?" she questioned. 



His troubled eyes sought her murmuring 

 boughs, and he listened to catch her words- 



'^Lie here and rest," breathed the spruce 

 tree; so he cast himself upon the ground, 

 rested his head upon his clasped hands, and 

 gazed up into her whispering branches. 



