The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1896-10-09
THE BEECH TREE.
By HERMAN BAumBAon.

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
a young beech tree, with smooth bark
and heaven-aspiring crest, and only
eighty years old. That is the best year
for forest tree.
The old tree still thrust ont 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 apright. And because she
knew that sne must die Sac felt her
love increase for her beautiful daugh-
ter.
Spring was approaching; the branches
were still covered with the glittering
FROST hut the roots began to uncuri
and the warm wind melted the snow
The rivers and brooks we're swelling
with melted ice. In the meadows the
silvery catllins 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; it will throw me down upon
my bed of leaves that have scattered
in the course of time, and shall go
back into the bosom of the mother from
whom came. Yet before | go home
Twill bequeath to You gift that the
gentle Lord of the forest bestowed up
on me, when long ago lie 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
IlGt uduB iiter.
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-
|
progress; it roared through tile forest,
and everything that was old and weak
! pcrished. 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 Tor her mother, then tho sun
came out aud dried her tears. Then
began everywhere such stir and com
motion that the beech tree had no time
| to grievc. Her buds swellcd and burst,
and one morning Il hundred thousand
trembling, tender green leaves sprang
into. the sunshine. That was Joy!
Goldcn-ycllow primroses climEed from
tho ground; ttcy pushed their silken
I leaves out into lie broad sunlight.
Red and blue blossoms grew up around
the primroscs and the sweet woodruff
uncurled its delicate-whirlcd leaves.
That was lie!
And in the midst of all this bloom
and fra3rare1 the young beech tree
stood like queen. A finch built her
nest III her branches and Il redheaded
woodpoclier raitl her a visit. Oncc q
cuckoo camc and once distinguished
squirrel with his bushy tail over his
head ran up and down to see If he
might not find an acorn. llut men she
had not yet seen this year, and they
would have been the most welcome
guests of IL since she possessed the
power to understand their words and
deeds. After all, one morning, came a
slender young girl withh her long brown
braits, 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: "lIere is the
spot Then she set down her basket
illci with May flowers and leaned back
against the beech tree without glance
vt 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 strong young man. He
wore little round hat with curling
feather like huntsman, He crept uI
cautiously, so cautiously that hardly O
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 glrl did not fly; instead she sprang
toward the youth and threw both arms
around his brown neck. "My HansP
my Evap they~cried together. Their
they kissed each other passionately
called each other pet names, embraced
again, and the beech tree found it al
very tedious.
Later they sat under the tree anC
a ~ m :. 1N---- " -.os = ', N1d story
they told, but it was all new to til
beech, and she listened like child t
fairy tale. 1t was wonderful SUI
prise to her The youth arose fror
the ground, drew out his knife and be
gan to carve in the bark OF the tree
This caused the beech great pain, bu
she held as still as wall.
''What is that to be?' asked tn,
maiden.
IA heart with your name and mine,
answered Hans, as he continued t
carve.
When the work was finished the,
both looked at it, well pleased, and th
tree was as happy as if a king has
hung golden chain upon her.
"Truly, men are splendid people,
thought she.
Now the hunter began to sing. TIL
tree had listened many times to tn
song of the finch and thrush, but sh
heard now for the first time something
very different from bird songs.
Listen, Hans" said the girl, whel
the hunter paused in his song. "You
song reminds me of something.
know-people say--that in the autumn
you go secretly into the woods 70
game. Let the poaching GO. tn