The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1895-06-06
THE BEECH TREE.

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-
NAMED to her. This daughter was a
young beech tree, with smooth bark and
heaven aspiring crest and only 80 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 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
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 t1m1d-
" 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 have scattered in the course
Of time, and I shall go back into the
bosom of the mother from whom
came. Yet before I go bone will be-
aueath 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
lows and sorrows. That is the greatest
happiness that can fall to our lot, but
be prepared to behold more sorrow than
low" So spoke the old tree and blessed
her daughter.
In the night the thaw wind came
from the west It 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 reared through the forest. and
everything that was old and weak per-
ished But the strong trees resisted it.
Il 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
king 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
grievs. Her buds swelled and burst and
one 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, 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 a queen. A finch built her nest in
| her branches and redheaded wood.
pecker paid her visit. Once cuckoo
came and once distinguished squirrel
with his bushy tail over his head rar
ND and down to see if he might not find
an acorn. But men she had not yet seer
this year, and they would have been thu
most welcome guests Of all, since sht
possessed the power to understand theil
! words and deeds. After all, one morning
came slender young girl with her Ions
brown braids, who walked through tht
woods straight to the tree. However
her visit did not seem to be for th'
beech alone She glanced at the decay
ing trees ON the ground and said, Her
is the spot. " Then she sat down he
basket filed with May flowers ana
leaned back against the beech tree with
out glance at its green lovelness.
The tree held her breath to hear wha
ne maiden would say. but the prett.
] one was silent. Presently from the op
posite side appeared strong youni
man. He wore little round hat with
curling feather like huntsman. 81
crept up cautiously-so cautiously tina
hardly leaf rustled under his feet Blu
softly as he stepped the quick ear Of th
maiden perceived his coming. Sh
turned her head toward him, and tn
tree thought, Nov she will fly" Blu
the girl did not fly Instead she spran
toward the youth and threw both arm
around his brown neck my Hans |
my Evap' they cried together. The
. they kissed each other passionately
called each other pet names, embrace
again, and the beech tree found it a,
: very tedious.
Later they sat under the tree an
| spoke of their love. It was an old stor
they told, but it was all new to th
beech tree, and she listened like chill
to fairy tale. 1t was wonderful SUI
, prise to her The youth arose from til
: ground, drew out his knife and began
: carve in the bark Of the tree. TIL
81 caused the beech great pain. bat 81
> held as still as wall
: What is that to be?" asked tt
maiden.
"A heart with your name and mine,
answered Hans as he continued to carv
: When the work was finished, the
: both looked at it. well pleased, and Il
. tree was a. happy as il king had hur
. golden chain upon her.
a Truly, men are splendid people.
O. thought she
D Now the hunter began to sing. Fl
tree had listened many times to Il