FOREST LEAVES 103 



^*Some good fairy must have led me to you, 

 beautiful child of the forest," he said to her. 

 *'Let me talk to you awhile and listen to what 

 you have to tell. 



**Picea — for is not that your classical name ? 

 — Picea, we are alike, you and I ; you are one 

 tree in a great forest, while I am like a tree 

 in a forest of men ; yet though you are happy 

 and do your part willingly, I am not content 

 simply to serve in the place where I find my- 

 self. 



*' Picea, if you and I had been cut off in our 

 early days, you would have been a Christmas 

 tree and I should have been a cherub ; but we 

 have been spared for some other purpose. Let 

 us hope that our best use will find us out. 

 Would you be willing to go out into the world 

 should the world have need of you?" 



** Should I leave my green boughs behind?" 

 she asked. ' ' The little Christmas trees went as 

 they were." 



**You would leave your tree-garb behind," 

 He said, not knowing that he answered her. 



"Picea, should you like to bear the record 



