THE MERRY GREENWOOD 119 



through the forest. In a favored spot he cut 

 down a tree; and where the tree fell, a cabin 

 grew. 



To this cabin the pioneer brought his wife ; 

 and the wood-nymphs whose trees they had 

 taken for house and fire came, silent and un- 

 seen, to their bright hearth. When there were 

 three in the home, they gathered around the 

 rude cradle, and the child caught their whis- 

 pers and smiled. 



As the child grew older, he used to follow 

 his father into the forest. Here day after day 

 the restless axe was swung, to give them a lit- 

 tle ground for corn and wheat. But some- 

 times the boy would run from the sound of the 

 noisy axe and wander up the stream. His fav- 

 orite spot was under the oak, where he would 

 often sit for hours, gazing down into the 

 spring. 



As little Josiah sat here one day, longing for 

 someone to play with, suddenly a pair of soft 

 hands were clapped over his eyes: *^ Guess 

 who?" 



* * I saw you in the spring ! ' ' And before the 



