THE HACKBERRY TREE TELLS HIS STORY 67 



looked mighty different from what it does now. 

 You say that you are a Memorial Tree. Now just 

 what is that?" 



"During the Great War sixteen of the boys who 

 had worked on the big farm, and who were working 

 here at that time, were engaged in the task of 

 whipping the Huns. Some of these boys returned 

 and are again at their work, while some of them will 

 never come back. The owner of the big farm de- 

 cided to perpetuate the memory of each one of these 

 boys by planting a tree in his honor; therefore we 

 are planted here this morning for that purpose, each 

 one representing an American soldier and an em- 

 ployee of the big farm," explained Young Walnut. 



"Well, tell me. Did the boy you represent come 

 back?" queried Big Hackberry. 



"Yes. He was brought back. He made the 

 supreme sacrifice. He was killed in action, October 

 10, 1918, in France, in an early morning attack by 

 the American Army, but he was recently returned, 

 to be buried in his native land," quietly explained 

 the Memorial Tree. 



"Well, I hope you will grow to be a great tree, just 

 as the boy you represent grew to be a great fighter. 

 I can think of no more commendable way of honor- 

 ing an American hero than planting a fine tree to 



