Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-11-21
THE OLD WILLOW.
DY ANNE IL. WOODRUFF.


OF winter whistled and moaned around him,
sweeping through the heap Of dead branches
scattered at his feet that had been severed
from mis- now almost branches trunk.
ITO be Topped of here, sawed there, and |
trimmed all round n an extremely painful |
operation, and very narrowing TO one ; ten |
der sensibilites. One never enjoys looking
like guy, no matter how ancient one has
become"
you do look rather ridiculous, Father
Willow" remarked the spruce young horse
chestnut standing next to him, with self
satisfied pride in his own shapely young
limbs. "Sucn a severe pruning may have
been needful, but it certainly is not be.
coming
They might have left me to die in peace,
continued the willow, mournfuily. Il am
the last one left. There were just u OF us
in the start, all the same age and size, in
| one long, beautiful row. One by one my
old companions have been cut down to
make room for some young upstart My
twin brother occupied the very spot where
1 you are standing. 1t nearly broke my heart
when l saw him 60.
I'VE horse chestnuts are becoming ex-
tremey popular in the most fashionable
districts" retortcd the young tree, holding
himself very stiiIly. Every dog -ahem-
tree, mas its day, you know
True" replied the willow, sorrowfully,
"and | nave had mine. Now | am but
cumberer OF the ground. | do not under
stand why it Is l am spared
IL Nor |, returned the young horse chest
nut, with the unieeling arrogance OF youth,
for there is only one more needed to make
us perfect Dozen and complete the gym
metry OF the row.
The winter passed, and the warm spring
breezes passed as gently over the old tree,
and the bright sun smiled as lovingly upon
him as upon the young tree, his neigAbor
The life sap stirred uneasily IN his roots,
and soon began to run with delightful
warmth through his old veins. Old as ne
was, he could not help rejoicing in the glad
ness and beauty OF the splngtime. The
wounds made upon his body by the cruel
saw and pruning knife began to heal, and
as the season advanced, sent forth fresh and
vigorous shoots to take the place OF the
limbs he had lost making haste to hide
the old trees shame with IuXurlant
growth OF branch and twiG, and leaf. The
baby blossoms sprang forth as II by magic
from every spot and hiding place where
they had been waiting Tor summons, the
soft, fuzzy catkins-naked and qulverins
. with delignt-in their beauty and fragrant
loyeliness. bringing the buzzing bees from
far and near to revel in their sweetness.
The slender, pointed yellowish green leaN es
followed the catkins, in haste to adorn the
old tree, and to help him breathe more
freely the delicious and reviving air. Be
fore the summer was over what had looked
r like an unsightly ruin of a grand old tree
!, presented most beautiful appearance, sur
passing even the glory of its youth, with
its thick growth of slender dropping
= branches, and swayed gracefully to and trc
with every breath of the breeze
The children of the neighborhood loved
| to gather in the shade around the old tree
i trunk their fresh young voices sending q
thrill of gladness to his Utmost beng a:
n they played and sang, and told stories
h while the fingers of some older boy deltlS
- fashioned the flexible twigs into shrill
! sounding whistles for the little ones. Ih'
long row of horse chestnuts, proud O.
II their handsome and stylish appearance
looked with wondering scorn upon the ole
trees popularity.
"You have renewed your youth, rather
Willow" said the young horse chestnut
Il taking note of his neighbours smartness
at is remarkable. Even the birds are talk
e ing about it," for every blue bird, robin
and orioe. and the hosts of chat,erinI
=, sparrows that fought and wrangled all da.
- among the tree tops, paid him VISIT t
offer their congratulations upon his I'm
Al proved appearance.
Is "a last expiring effort, answered tn
old tree. "Soon the place that knew me S
well shall know me no more forever wit
,e a sigh that swept through the huttern
g leaves and made the birds feel sad wit
- but n
u family to come after me in this old tmllla
L spot, should die happy
lie How well the old tree looks" said a
aged man to the silvery-haired wife seate
beside him on the piazza of the mouse /
front OF which the old tree stood. i ieare
i, last year it was going to dle"
81 feared so, too" answered the old LADY
softly, land it made me sad. 1t seems onl
II Yesterday that you planted those straight
slender willow slips. Now they ace all gor
It's but this ONE
"Sim and young and tender, like ou
.. two selves just starting out in life. returne
the old man, muSngy, land like us no.
in the decay of our strength. Inns one n
ei minds me that We, too, shall soon be goh
and the place that knows US now snail kno
I'D us no more forever"
"And like you both, grandfather an
er grandmother, in the beauty of green al
~. beautiful old age" added sweet-iaee
young mother, who came to the door, an
stood gazing fondly upon them and upon
ay sturdy lad of eight years, who came ru
lr. ming toward them in state OF glad e
element
no Mamma! Mammal Grandma! Gran
mr. MAJ" he cried. Come and see my little w
low tree. It's growing 1t Is truly gro'
ing. You know when planted that Att
Eek slip of the old willow last fall-the tin
ost they trimmed the tree. Now ii the poor o
willow does have to die, there will be oil
his of his children left.
es. Aren't you gad?" and he skipped alol
a., beside them in glee, to show them
precious SLIPPING
"Aha!" said the old tree, who was /
the tening eagerly, that is good news l a
Mr.. glad that neither l nor the one that plae