: 
\ 
M 
on 
withstand long months of sleep- 
less conflict, are in fact quite 
admirably qualified. These 
wrestlings do them good. Brown- 
ing was right when he lets old 
rabbi Ben Ezra say, 
“ Then, welcome each rebuff 
That turns earth's smoothness rough 
Each sting that bids nor sit nor stand 
but go! 
Be our joys three-parts pain! 
Strive, and hold cheap the strain: 
Learn, nor account the pang: dare, 
never grudge the throe!” 
The hue of the hacked, horny 
rind of the cottonwood trunk 
near its base is all but black. 
Some | have seen which were 
nothing less, while their branches 
are light to whiteness, a green- 
ish silver, in fact; but a lamp 
light with gentle glow to the eyes 
that love to linger on them, so 
that as seen in winter across a 
field they stand white as wearing 
light as a garment, and make all 
trees about them to appear as 
A WINTER COTTONWOOD 
56 
