The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-16

maj respects not his dignity; let me
wear the crown. Who 60 f. to be the
monarch of the woods as the oak? My
strength will compel him to obedience"
The trees heard the words of the oak,
and applauded them, The cedar was
dethroned and the oak appointed their
sovereign but still the ravages of the
woodman prevailed
Theforest trees met again in disorder
when thus spoke the aged Yew. at is
not dignity and strength that will arrest
the wOodman's arm; let me be made your
king; he will respect and reverence my
age" The Yew was made king, but
still the weodman's axe resounded
through the forest.
The next king was the Cypress, who
contended that, though dignity, strength
and age had been despised, his solemnity
would awe the woodman and dispose
him to obey. The woodman regarded
not the Cypress, and the trees fell as be-
fore.
"You are wrong" said the Birch, in
the council that was held. "Though
the woodman cannot be opposed by
strength, nor awed by age nor solemnity
yet may be won by beauty. My silvery
bark and slender boughs would gently
incline him to obedience. Let me wear
the crown" With universal applause
the Birch wa crowned; but in vain.
Tree after tree still fell beneath the
sturdy stroke of the woodman.
"How long will ye follow bad advice
and neglect wise counsel 2" said the Fig
tree. "Know ye not hat the woodman
il guided by his interest? Ye should
have made me your king. My fruit
would have alIured him. 1t would be his
interest 10 obey me-" With one accord
the trees chose the Fig to rule orer them
but the forest still grew thinner and
thinner.
"Hear me-" said the Aspen, in a
whispering voice, "and despise not the
counsel that ] give. Let me be crowned,
for when the woodman sees me CULVER
ing in the blast, he will pity me, and
grant, for my sake, what he has hitherto
refused" The crown was placed on the
Aspen, but the trees that fell we're no
fewer than before.
Driven to despair, another council was
assembled, when the prickly Bramble
contended that a different course should
be taken. If ye make me your king"
said he, 81 will defy the woedman; l
will resist him in every quarter. He
shall find me armed for your defense,
and he will retire." The courage of the
Bramble was highly a~pplauded, and he
was crowned, but the woodman's course
was not arrested.
When it wa found that the strength
of the Oak, the age of the Yew, and the
solemnity of the Cypress prevailed not
when the beauty of the Birch. the
abundance of the Fig, and the timidity
Of the Aspen, had proved to be vain ;
having tried from the towering Cedar to
the lowly Bramble, it wa decided that
they should no more oppose the progress
of the woodman, but grow in strength
and beauty; bloom and blossom, and
bear fruit according to their several
natures, and SO seek to be prepared to
bow down without a murmur when the
axe of the woodman~ approached them.
Be ye high or low, rich OF poor, old or
young, wise or simple, learn ye a lesson
from the council of the trees. 1t is bet
ter to improve your time by making
your lives useful, than to waste it in the
vain attempt to increase the number of
your days for, as the trees of the forest
fall before the ak of Che woodman go must
ye fall before the scythe of death.
Dear young reader, you may be felled
next. Do you know three S's-sin, so
as to hate, forsake, and loatne it--the
Saviour, 50 as to seek salvation, and,
finding it, give God all praise for it
and Service under the easy yoke of
Jesus.--OM Humphrey in The Little