THE MERRY GREENWOOD 135 



great big tree with this little hatchet?'' His 

 laugh rang merrily through the silent wood. 

 *' Madam, this forest has been given into my 

 keeping, to preserve, not to destroy, that it 

 may be a blessing now and in time to come." 

 As he spoke, he chipped the bark of an old 

 tree with a heavy shade. 



' ' Who woke me ? " And a wood-nymph ran 

 lightly from the tree. 



*'I'm sorry. Miss," replied the young man, 

 abashed; *'I didn't know you were sleeping in 

 the tree. I was just marking it to be cut down, 

 for it is keeping these younger trees from 

 growing." 



*^Yes, it is time for my home to go, for here 

 it is worse than useless." 



As he chipped a second tree, another nymph 

 awoke. 

 ''Who cut into my tree ?" she asked sharply. 

 ''I did it with my little hatchet," he an- 

 swered frankly, ''for it is crowding better 

 trees. But I am right sorry to disturb all you 

 girls. I didn't know you were having a pic- 

 nic in the woods." 



