The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1895-07-13
THE BEECH TREE.

VI fungus grew Oh Etr Ozark. Nuc Was
the Oldest Of a numerous family. but
she had seen her children, as Q as
they had grown up, fall under the wood
mans ak, and only one daughter re-
manned to her. This daughter was a
young beech tree, with smooth bark and
heaven aspiring crest and only SO years
old. That is the best year for a forest
tree.
The old tree still thrust oat l.er twigs
and leaves in tho spring. bat she felt
that her life was drawing to a close, for
it cost her great suffering to hold herself
upright. And because she knew that she
must die she felt her love increase for
her beautiful daughter.
Spring was approaching. The branches
werc still covered with the glitterirc
frost, but the roots began to uAcuri.
and the warm wind melted the snow.
The rivers and brooks were swelling
with melted ice. In tie meadows the
silvery catkims burst from their wrap
pings, and the snowlrops pceped timid-
ly up through the white carpet of the
forest ground.
The old tree spoke to the young: ITO
night comes the violent thaw wind. 1t
will throw me down upon my bed Of
leaves that l have scattered III the course
Of time, and l shall go back into the
bosom Of the mother from whom l
came. Yet before | go home l will be-
queath to you a gift that the gentle lord
of the forest bestowed upon me when
long ago he stopped to rest under my
branches. You shall understand mems
words and deeds and share alike III their
joys and sorrows That is the greatest
happiness that can fall to our lot, but
be prepared to behold more sorrow than
joy" So spoke the old tree and blessed
her daughter.
In the night the thaw wind came
from the west. 1t buried ships i'll the
waves of the sea; it rolled great masses
of snow from the mountains that de-
stroyed the homes of men in their prog
ress; it roared through the forest, and
everything that was old and weak per-
lshed. But the strong trees resisted it.
1t struck the old beech tree to the earth
and shook her strong daughter as she
NisCly USlJ 1ISI utdu UGloIe Tie DldSI,
and the great wind swept on.
Three days the daughter wept spar
king dew for her mother; then the sun
came out and dried her tears. Then be-
gan everywhere such stir and comlno-
tion that the beech tree had no time TO
grieve. Her buds swelled and burst and
n morning a hundred thousand trem-
bling, tender green leaves sprang into
the sunshine. That was joy! Golden
yellow primroses climbed from the
ground. They pushed their silken leaves
out into the broad sunlight. Red and
blue blossoms grew up around the prim-
roses, II the sweet woodruff uncurled
its delicate whirled leaves. That was
life.
And in the midst of all this bloom
and fragrance the young beech tree stood
like a queen. A finch built her nest in
her branches and a redheaded wood
pecker paid her a visit. Once cuckoo
came and once a distinguished squirrel
with his bushy tail over his head ran
up and down to see if he might not find
an acorn. But men she had not yet seen
this year, and they would have been the
most welcome guests of all. since she
possessed the power to understand their
words and deeds. After all, IL morning
came aslender young girl with her long
brown braids, who walked through the
woods straight to the tree. However,
her visit did not seem to be for tie
beech alone. She glanced at the decay
ing trees on the ground and said, Here
is the spot" Then she sat down her
basket filled with May flowers and
leaned back against the beech tree with
out a glance at its green loneliness.
The tree held her breath to hear what
the maiden would say, but the pretty
n was silent. Presently from the Oh
posite side appeared Il strong young
man. He wore a little round hat with ii
curling feather like a huntsman. He
crept up cautiously-so cautiously that
hardly Il leaf rustled under his feet. But
softly as he stepped the quick ear of tie
maiden perceived his coming. She
turned her head toward him, and the
tree thought, Now she will fly" Bat
the girl did not fly. Instead she spra4g
toward the youth and threw both &r.;Is
around his brown neck. MY HanS!N
MY Evat" they cried together. Then
they kissed each other p~assionatelr,
called each other let names, embraced
again, and the beech tree found it al
very tedious.
Later they sat under the tree and
spoke ii their love. 1t was an old story
they told, but it was al new to the
beech tree, and she listened Ike a child
to Il fairy tale. It was a wonderful sur