CHAPTER XXIV 
THE FALL OF ONE OF THE SPRUCES 
A lthough offered all sorts of rewards by 
Mr. Hayden, Timothy could do nothing to 
save the sixth spruce tree. The gardeners from 
Nestly Heights came to look at it, and also Mr. 
Bradley from Miss Wiseman’s. They all talked 
together, and then together they shook their heads. 
The stroke of lightning had entered at the base of 
the tree, and had then run up the stem and burst 
it open. The 'wound was too great to heal. This 
has been our first grief at the Six Spruces. Even 
Mr. Hayden did not venture to speak of our Aunt 
Amanda. As yet the tree has not fallen, but some 
day, when Joseph and I are away, Timothy is going 
to take it down. 
Our garden cheerfully rebounded after the storm, 
and the birds returned in great numbers, appearing 
hungrier and more active in catching worms than 
before. Even the screech-owl made his moaning 
noise from the wood-border in the evening, to as- 
sure us perchance that he had not been drowned. 
The foxgloves in the garden are still very lovely. 
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