The broad ax., 1898-02-05


and qualzing in a sweeping storm MAI.
coins birthday was the last pleasant
one Of that season. Il was just al
the close Of the baimy Indian sumo
mer. And now the fhil rains came on.
the frosts appeared In earnest and
changed the beautiful color Of he
foliage to q duh. dry brown
Flocks Of birds few by; they were
going south TO spend the winter: and
chartered gayly on their travels The
foolish leaves envied them their lib
erty and fretted to be free also. that
they might HE away whithersoeSer
they wished.
One day fierce blast came driving
past. stripping them on from their pa
rents boughs In q merciless manner.
only one solitary little leaf remaining
OF the many the brave old beech had
possessed. It was that which Baby
Bob was after the day Of the picnic.
"Ah!" It sighed, my brothers and SIS
tiers have forsaken me; they were al
ways dissatisfied with being held 50
close at home; now they have a hue
chance to travel"
Some followed the wind on its on.
ward course. hurrying after as fast ar
they could. think they had q notion
Of catching up with the birds. Some
few 70 the housetop and settled In the
caves, where, no doubt. they would
have a fine chance for observation.
Others danced along the ground to the
brink OF the lake, ard. making sa.r
boats Of themselves, embarked on
voyage Of discovery over the ripping
waters, while the rest. less ambitious,
dropped silently upon the grass be-
meath the tree and lay still and quiet
By-and-by our little leaf began to
feel lonely. and spying an oak tree
standing near. on which the leaves
still remained. 1t took advantage Of the
next breath Of air to watt itself into
its neighbor's branches, where II
lodged in safety.
please give me shelter" 1t said;
you are so strong and can stand 81
much"
But the oak leaves were very
churlish at this request and rustled
stifiy.
why did you not hold fast as We
have done?" they answered. 1T will
take a pretty stiff breeze to loosen
u.s." And they ratified def1antly at
the whistling wind; but the wind
laughed in derision at this idle boast
wait and see-wait and sect" he
said.
The poor little leaf, thus repulsed
fiuttered disconsolately to the ground
Here It lay for some time, signing
sadly at its fate. till the wind, who
was not so hard-hearted after all. on
ly somewhat boisterous in its DISPOSE
ton, took pity on its forlorn condition
and tried its best to whisk 1t back to
its companions under the old beech.
But It was too low-spirited to raise
itself up, and so the rowing fellow
passed on and left it. Before long a
brisk young squirrel came hopping ty
and stopped to crack a nut near. The
little leaf at once recognized him as an
old acquaintance, born and reared In
its parents branches.
"Oh, Mr.. Squirrel" 1t cried, take
me back to my mates. l beseech youl"
Immediately the squirrel stopped
eating. and glanced down in surprise
at the leaf, whose voice had startled
him; but upon perceiying one Of his
summer friends in the outcast strang-
er he quickly recovered himself, and
promised to carry It home as soon as |
he was through with breakfast. Sc
when he had finished the nut he |
seized It in his sharp teeth, gave two |
or three sharp jumps over the ground,
reached the beech. reIinquished his !
hold, and at last our poor wait :ound |
itself safe among fits fellows.
Here It lay during the long winter. |
The heavens wept in compassion, and |
the tears fell to the earth, soaking Il !
through and through. Then the snow
came and covered it up. kindly hiding
from sight the ragged. shapeless lit
tie thing which was all that remained
Of the once beautiful leaf.
When spring returned and the grass !
grew green the children came to play
again beneath the old beech trees
shade. II had a lovely new set oil
leaves now. and the feet of the little
mortals trod heedlessly over the place
where one Of last summer lay buried:
but It could not feel-it was quite
Head.
Tom was there. and Bob and
Madge; but there was one Of the mum.
Der missing. and when Madge read the
letters on the bark-"Mslcolm D
aged fourteen"-there were tears in
her eyes. Turning them toward .ht
far-of sky, she whispered:
"Malcolm's an angel now!" and .hI
rest hushed their merry voices and fol.
lowed her gaze, thinking. perhaps. e
pierce In heaven. whittier theii
brother had gone