336 NA TURE STUD Y RE VIEW 



FOREvSTER 



I wish more people could enjoy my forests. Few ever see them 

 at all and fewer still enjoy them as they might. They come 

 whirring through here in touring cars frightening the birds and 

 squirrels and deer, perhaps camp a day or night and think they 

 have seen the mountains. Little they know of mystery and 

 color and wild life. As for the rest of himianity in the lowlands 

 they stay cooped up in their stuffy houses and die there without 

 knowing what clean air and clear water taste like. I'll get me 

 a drink of that spring water right now. (he goes to the spring 

 and drinks and then reclines restfully on the grass.) 



I alone here to enjoy all this beauty. I alone the prospector 

 of this beauty and this wealth — worth millions just for lumber — 

 and millions more for health and recreation — I alone the guar- 

 dian of it for generations to come, (he is silent for a few mornents. 

 Then the warm sun and weariness from labor make him drowse — 

 and dream.) This is what he dreams: 



(enter a wood-fairy, Chipmunk. He tip-toes up to the sleeping 

 forester and peeps under his hat. Then he beckons to his five 

 companions, Nuthatch, Himimer, Vireo, Bush-tit and Lizard, 

 who come in silently and roguishly and trip about the Forester 

 on the grass.) 



CHIPMUNK 

 Say fellows, let's do the sleep magic over the Forester. We 

 haven't played a joke on him for many moons. 



VIREO 

 I say jolly. It is time we had some fun. Hallowe'en is too 

 long to wait. 



BUSH-TIT (in a fearful, whining voice.) 

 But suppose some harm comes to the forest while the Forester 

 is under the spell. The Guardian Spirit of the Woods would 

 be very angry with us. 



CHIPMUNK 

 Oh Bush-tit, you are always afraid (he dances about and says 

 half singing.) 



A frolic today does Chipmunk say 



While the breezes play and the tall trees sway. 



Come let us be gay, there's none to speak nay. 



