The San Francisco call., 1897-10-31

US. one likes 10 WalCH US WOrk, anu OnCe
1 heard her laugh when / made joke.
and she is as much afraid Of a gun as we
are"
looked up and nodded my thanks TO
the little fellow, and smiled at old Gray
as he stole gingerly out to go on with his
work, and soon they were gossiping away
about their families and neighbors as
freely as though no mortal in dress and
hat were listening to every word.
Old Gray told the story of his early life.
and it was very interesting. After awhile
! slipped down into bed of leaves, and l
think went to Sleep for when l opened
my eyes the red October sun was sink
ing behind the hill, and the wind was
growing chilly. l should have gotten MP
and hurried home, but Cor a whisper in
the oak that L had never heard before.
So closed my eyes in make-believe sleep
and listened.
"Yes," said the voice in the tree, "the
fairies Will come tonight. They will dress
the wild grape first, leaf by leaf, in bright
red."
MAY I not be dressed in yellow this
timer" asked the vine in fretful voice.
"I have worn red at every party we have
had and this oak, my partner, has worn
yellow. Why may l not be yellow or
brown2"
"Perhaps," said the oak, her partner,
sternly, 'my com mpanion would like to be
dressed in black at once. / have heard of
the fairies getting angry and clothing the
whole forest in mourning in one night.
That was before the vine grew, and the
mortals called it a black frost. Let the
vine be content. She is the most beauti-
fui of the forest people in her rosy autumn
dress and my love for her could not be
greater"
The vine said no more that l coCld
hear, but l knew by the soft rustic and
fiutter that passed through her leaves that
she was clinging close to the strong oak
and whispering her love and content.
Then the great oak above me went Oh
in his grave, Kind voice: 'The beautiful
| vine need not desire change. The fairies
knowwhat best suits each one of US. Long
ago I had slender vine twining about
me, and in the autumn she wore the same
bright dress. and the whole forest felt the
warmth of it. Now she has turned into
the dust about my feet and l am alone
and am glad to wear no brighter color
| than the sober brown the fairies always
| give me-"
A soft sigh came from the forsst ir
memory of the dead vine, and then the
| oak went on:
1.-THE NAPLES will be dressed in all the
| colors, bright and rich. because they are
| light and young, and the fairies love them
best to dance under. The oaks will be
yellow and brown, as usual, with some
! spots of red, and the manzanita-"
1--WE will be blue like the skYl' ratified
the stiff manzanita leaves by my head.
| 1--WE will not be red. or brown, or yellow
| like the com IN on forest people. Our wood
is beautiful. and We will have the color of
the sky for our leaves or we will not 60 tC
the party at allP'
"Silly BUSH" said the oak, "wilI you
| never learn that the October leaves have
none of the sky color? Year after yeal
you have clamored for it, and each time
have been told that the April fairies use ii
all for bluebells and the other heaven
| tinted blossoms A soft yellow against
! your red bark would make you a spot o
| such beauty the fairies would join hand.
and dance about you each night. And
| you know If you are cross they will pas,
| you Dy anu the COlO Ice OF winter WILL
| gather on your green dress until you
| leaves rattle with the cold. But have your
own way and bear your punishment.
have said my say"
The manZanita gave a cross little shake
and then all was still lay quiet though
the air was bitterly cold, to see if the oaE
would speak again. Seeing he would not
| l stole away, my nose tingling with frost
| and. as / fastened home in the moonlight
I fancied l saw a legion OF little men witt
brushes busy painting the leaves of tn,
vine. and that one took off his pointed car
and made me bow.
The next day went back. The oak wal
silent, the squirrels very busy, and 10, tn,
wild grapevine had become twining corc
| of bright red winding round ana round
tbs oak, its companion. Itook one of tn,
crimson leaves to press, and as l wen
away / heard the young squirrel say: g.
wonder il she knows the October fairie,
are painting the forest for their Hallow.
cen party"
did know, and I tell you, and If you gC
into the woods the day before Halloween
you will find the trees dressed just as tn,
old oak said they should be, and the greer
manzanlta still angry because she coule
not have leaves the color Of the sky.
MISS MARY.