144 FOREST FANCIES 



the birch tree, **that you should wear fir all 

 summer." 



^'However," put in the cedar tree, *'you 

 know that cedar keeps away moths." 



**And if that doesn't mend matters," cried 

 the pine tree, sharp of wit, *Hhen please try; 

 my needles!" 



'* Don't let us talk of clothes," begged the lit- 

 tle balsam-fir; *^let us play at being grown up, 

 and talk of the things that we'll do then." 



'^Perhaps they won't leave us here to grow 

 up," said the spruce tree. *^As we grow big- 

 ger, we'll crowd one another and stand in each 

 other's light." 



*^Then let us be happy while we may," 

 breathed the balsam-fir, **and love one an- 

 other." 



**May you never be taken from us, Cho-koh- 

 tung!" exclaimed the pine tree. 



Cho-koh-tung smiled at the old Indian name, 

 which means the balsam '^blisters" on her bark. 



While the little trees were playing at being 

 grown up and talking of the great things that 

 they would do when as tall as the mamma-trees 



