Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-07-05
THE BEECH TREE.

There stood in the forest an old beech
tree Her top was shattered by light
ming, her sides were hollow, and pieces
Of fungus grew on her bark. She was
the Oldest of numerous family, but
she had seen her children, as soon as
they had grown up, fall under the wood
mans ak, and only one daughter re-
manned to her. This daughter was
young beech tree, with smooth bark and
heaven aspiring crest and only so years
old. That is the best year for forest
tree
The old tree still thrust out her twigs
and leaves in the spring, but 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
We're still covered with the glittering
frost, but the roots began to uncurl,
and the warm wind melted the snow.
The rivers and brooks were swelling
with melted ice. In the meadows the
silvery catkins burst from their wrap
pings, and the snowdrops peeped timid-
ly up through the white carpet of the
forest ground.
The old tree spoke to the young: "To-
night comes the violent thaw wind. 1t
will throw me down upon my bed OF
leaves that have scattered in the course
of time, and I shall 60 back into the
bosom of the mother from whom I
came. Yet before go home I will be-
queath to you 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 in their
joys and sorrows. That is the greatest
happiness that can fall to our lot, but
be prepared 20 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 in 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-
ished But the strong trees resisted it.
1t struck the old beech tree to the earth
and shook her strong daughter as she
wisely bent her head before the blast,
and the great wind swept on.
Three days the daughter wept spar
Killing dew for her mother; then the sun
came out and dried her tears. Then be-
gan everywhere such stir and commo-
ton that the beech tree had no time to
grieve Her buds swelled and burst and
one morning 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, and 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 o queen. A finch built her nest in
her branches and a redheaded wood
pecker paid her visit. Once cuckoo
came and once q 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, one morning
came slender 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 the
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 glance at its green loneliness.
The tree held her breath to hear what
the maiden would say, but the pretty
one was silent. Presently from the op-
posite side appeared strong young
man. He wore little round hat with
curling feather like huntsman. He
crept up cautiously-so cautiously that
hardly leaf rustled under his feet. But
softly as he stepped the quick ear Of the
maiden perceived his coming. She
turned her head toward him, and the
tree thought, "Now she will fly" But
the girl did not fly. Instead she sprang
toward the youth and threw both arms
around his brown neck. "My Hans!''
my Evar' they cried together. Then
they kissed each other passionately,
called each other pet names, embraced
again, and the beech tree found it oil
very tedious.
Later they sat under the tree and
spoke Of their love. It was an old story
they told, but it was all new to the
beech tree, and she listened like child
to fairy tale. It was a wonderful sur
prise to her. The youth arose from the
ground, drew out his knife and began to
carve in the bark of the tree This
caused the beech great pain, but she
held as still as wall.
"What is that to be?' asked the
maiden.
IA heart with your name and mine,"
answered Hans as he continued to carve
When the work was finished, they
both looked at it, we'll pleased, and the
tree was as happy as II king had hung
a golden chain upon her.
Truly, men are splendid people"
thought she.
Now the hunter began to sing. The
tree had listened many times to the