The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-11-17
Morning Star and csthoilc Messenger.
JUVENILE COLUMN.
A STORY OF LEAVES.
BY EDITH PALA1xR.

y
cred with thick carpet of soft moss and /
fallen leaves, so soft that hound and hunter /
might listen in vain for football of fox Q
or rabbit, if it were not for the dry leaves !
and cracking cones that might happen to {
lie in the way. q
It is far away from any houses, SO that !
the village children seldom visit it in
search of nuts and berries but there are ,
all the more left for the bright. eyed Tab- '
bits that peep out from beneath the fallen
and the sauey little .s.
The forest was once all pine, fir, and
hemlock, and where these old trees have
not been molested, their branches have
grown together SO thickly. that the bright
est and most inquisitive stars cannot peer
inhabitants have been cut down for timber
and . new growth of another sort has
sprung up.
In one of these sunny spots of the forest
stood group Of young oaks, naples and nd
and gaily fiuttering their fresh leaves in the
sunshine.
It was in the merry spring time, and they
were all arrayed in delicate suits of pale |
green, some of them fringed, tasselled and
imaginable.
Not content with being simply gay and
glad in the beautiful spring, these new.
corners tossed their graceful heads and
looked scorpfally at the dark evergreens
around for the frs and hemlocks had only
a few green buds in their hair, and the
pines not even these.
"Look !" cried q gay young birch to lts
neighbor, the red maple, "look at those OLD
Puritan pines in the dull dresses they have
worn all winter hGr amy. %S p esupd d od
fashioned trees. wish they didn't live so
neaIus. How pretty the forest would look
without them ."
"Indeed it would" said the maple,
shaking ont her clusters of scarlet flowers;
are as old as the hills"
at don't see how we can practice our
giees and choruses with those solemn pines
for our neighbors ~ exclaimed silver
leaf poplar. "They will drown all our
voices with their psalm tunes, lot tney slog
nothing else"
So ali the new trees put their heads to-
gether, and agreed to slight the poor pines
as much as possible. They ridiculed and
vexed them in every way; They even
the thick branches, as they used to do,
telling them that the little ones would die
for want of sunshine.
Thus the summer passed by, and the
glorious autumn days came, with their
clear skies and bright sunsets, wrapping
the mountains in purple haze, and throw
ing softer light into tho old forest. The
naples were the first to throw on thelr
green summer dresses for more gorgeous
robes Of scarlet and gold, and fame-co
!, The oaks followed with their glowing GRIM
son; then the birches and poplars and
beeches chose different shades of yellow
VARYING from straw-color to tawny gold
Still the pines and hemioeks kept theii
mode green in spite of scornful laughter
and unkind speeches.
ono wonder" said the shining beech. ir
tone loud enough for all to hear, thai
thew have been so afraid of the sunshine
all summer. They could not afford to fad'
the only dresses they will ever have"
All these things made the pines 1eei ven
+ sad, and their song was low and mournful
sometimes it sounded like sobbing, bu
they never said any harsh things In returI
h and only seemed to draw back farther int
the shadow.
y ing their sweet music, and he is q capita
II iudge to be sure! But nothing could con
81 sole them for the loss Of the little songster
81 who used to build their nests among Tn
* swaying branches. The birds were SOFT
after It was too late for there s y. Tsr ,;+.1
nestlings missed the soft lullaby that n
ways sung them to sleep.
d By and by the days grew shorter and "a q
nights colder. Tho bright colors Of til
oaks and naples turned to dull brow.
the wind whistled mournfully throug
them. The heavy frosts grew heavier, an
II the dropping of nuts could be distinct
ii heard on the frozen ground.
At last came q sharper hercer blast tna
any before, rushing down from the bles
"a mountain tops, filling the air with sno
81 flakes and stripping the last leaves fro
the proud trees.
The brave old pines, in their warm, gree
cloaks, felt not the icy breath, but stretc'
ed out glad arms of welcome to the flo
tering snow fakes, and answered back Il
rushing winds with music like the waves
Il, the sea.
81 ing and bending before the storm tn
81 passed over their own heads 30 light
their great, kind hearts were touched, al
they spread out their branches protecting pro StanI
=. Forgive us, forgive us! !" sohbed Il
n repentant trees, " and love US again"
"Love us again, love us again J" echo
the pines; and the tall frs and l heml4 DC,
go Al. tranobl;no hirches took courage TO To-