THE TREE FOLK ii 



All systems of radiation have as their aim, "free air'' 

 for every leaf. The motherly tree souls thrusting forth 

 their innumerable children every spring have an un- 

 canny foresight as to where they shall stand. Look at 

 any spray as it hangs over your head some calm day, 

 and see how it floats in the breathless air. As the fila- 

 ments of a bit of sea moss spread themselves in water, 

 so the leaves are poised, each alone, without touching 

 another leaf. 



That each should in his house abide 

 Therefore was the world so wide. 



And for the sake of each tiny leaflet was the space 

 subdivided. 



And yet, as "No man hveth unto himself," according 

 to St. Paul, so no leaf liveth unto itself. Each has room 

 for itself only because it allows every other leaf the 

 same privilege. There is a hint of communism in all this. 

 Are the trees wiser than I ? They have no submerged 

 tenths, no slums, among all their countless myriads of 

 leaves. 



DRESS is another matter about which the trees are 

 , particular. Their leaves are worn like robes, mar- 

 vellous robes, that grow, and change colors with age, and 

 are put off without regret when they must go to serve 

 another purpose. 



The Scotch used to wear plaids; the Quakers con- 



