148 FOREST FANCIES 



**A child loves her little chair," said the pine 

 tree, **yet never thinks of the oak that took a 

 century to grow the wood. ' ' 



*^If I could make children glad," re- 

 plied Cho-koh-tung, ^Hhat would be my re- 

 ward." 



**Then be happy," whispered the sunshine, 

 "for the children who come to the forest see 

 you and rejoice in your beauty." 



The little balsam-fir looked up gladly to the 

 caress of the sunlight. "I am happy, but the 

 habit of playing at being grown up leads me 

 to plan for the time when youth is gone and 

 the beauty of youth." 



** * Rejoice in the days of thy youth!' " re- 

 peated the sunshine. 



So Cho-kuh-tung ceased thinking of the fu- 

 ture and was happy in each passing hour, try- 

 ing to grow cones upon her branches like the 

 tall young balsam-fir near by. 



"Christmas time means happy time, and the 

 giving of gifts," she mused; "I wonder if I 

 can grow pretty cones to give to Emily when 

 she returns." 



