76 VOICES FROM THE WOODLANDS. 



remained stationary, made it their haunt or home. The 

 recluse loved that tree, and bestowed upon it much of his 

 attention : in sultry weather he often watered its dry 

 roots from the neighbouring well-head, and in winter he 

 scattered grain for the small birds which dwelt among the 

 branches. 



" I shall yet hear your songs, and see green leaves on 

 my fostering tree, thought the recluse," when he fed Iris 

 feathered friends. "I know your voices; and when you 

 sing, I seem to hear a chorus of grateful and rejoicing ones, 

 who hymn the goodness of their Creator. And thou, noble 

 tree, which hast sprung up to a commanding height, since 

 I gathered nuts from off the hazels, I understand the 

 rustling and whispering of thy boughs ; thou, too, art one 

 of nature's choristers." 



None remained of those who gathered nuts with the old 

 man in boyhood ; but their sons were grown up, and many 

 of them would bring their young children in the summer 

 evenings, to listen to his tales of hair-breath escape, or to 



