SWAYING TREE TOPS 



dies. When the storm came last 

 night the tree had gone only its 

 untenanted shell remained. The vic- 

 tory of the wind was empty of honor. 



Even now the dead shell, lying 

 prone upon the earth, will serve a 

 purpose. Violets will bloom sooner 

 on the sunny side of the trunk next 

 spring, and the defeat of the north 

 wind will continue. 



The girl who wears the violets will 

 pick them there, and, sitting on the 

 fallen trunk, will mass them with 

 their leaves for her emblem of the 

 season; while the robin will call 

 cheerily from the fence rail, " Spring 

 spring spring is here." 



[160] 



