The Van Buren press., 1895-07-06
THE BEECH TREE,
BY HERMAN BAUMBAcH.

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
woodman's ak, and only one daughter
remained to her This daughter was
young beech tree, with smooth bark
and heaven-aspiring crest, md only
eighty years old That Is the best wear
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 1t cost her great suffering to
hold herself upright. And because she
knew that she must die she felt her
love increase for her beautiful daugh-
ter.
Spring wasapproaching; the branches
were 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 tim
idly up through the white carpet of
the forest ground.
The old tree spoke to the young;
Tonight comes the violent thaw.
wind; 1t will throw me down upon
my bed OF leaves that have scattered
in the course Of time, and l shall go
back into the bosom of the mother from
whom came. Yet before l go home
will bequeath to you gift that the
gentle Lord Of the forest bestowed up
on 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 sor-
rows; that is the greatest happiness
that can fall to our lot, but be pre-
pared 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 In the
waves OF the sea; 1t rolled great masses
OF snow from the mountains that de-
stroyed the homes of men in their
progress; 1t roared through the forest,
and every ything that was old and weak
perished. 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 spark
ling dew for her mother, then the sun
came out and dried her tears Then
began everywhere such stir and COM
motion that the beech tree had no time
to grieve. Her buds swelled and burst,
| and one morning hundred thousand
trembling, tender green leaves sprang
into the sunshine. That was joy!
Golden-yellow primroses climbed from
the ground; they pushed their si'ken
leaves out into the broad sunlight.
Red and blue blossoms grew up around
the primroses 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 queen. A finch built her
nest In her branches and redheaded
woodpecker paid her o visit Once q
cuckoo came and once distinguished
squirrel with his bushy tail over his
head ran up and down to see II he
might not find an acorn. But men she
had not vet seen this year, and they
would have been the most welcome
quests of all since she possessed the
mower to understand their words and
deeds After all, one morning, came
slender young girl with her long brown
bra,ds. 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 decaying trees
ON the ground and said: Here is the
spot." Then she set down her basket
filled with May flowers and leaned back
against the beech tree without glance
at Its green loveliness. The tree held
her breath to hear what the maiden
would say, but the pretty one was
silent, Presently from the opposite
side appeared q strong young man. he
wore a little round hat with curling
feather like huntsman. lie crept up
cautiously, so cautiously that hardly a
Loaf rustled under his feet. But softly
as he stepped the quick ear OF tne
maiden perceived his coming. she
turned her head toward him, and the
tree thought: "Now she will fiy'" But
the girl did not fly; instead she s.s spanms rm
toward the youth and threw both arms arms
around his brown neck. my hans'
INV Eval" they cried together. Then
,bey kissed each other passionateiyi;
cali.d each other pet Names embraced :,
% oaain. and the beech tree found 1T all
Vi Later they sat under the tree ..'a1.,, and
spoke Of their love 1t ~SS W" ae 0't to the
h.ecb and she listened like cll,ia 70
49, tale. 1t was wonderful sur
".iss r@.s TO her. The youth arose from
pr,'o ',round drew out his knife and BE-