The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-06-25


"A old Hobbs farm-merely bit
~ Of rolling land crowned by .
derelict wing Of the farm
house and one solitary spruce tree
standing guard over Selma Hobbs and
the remnant of her home
But that lone tree was majestic IN
it's solitude. Tall and evergreen and
shapely. 1t rose to an immense height
its lateral branches sweeping III wild
ening circumference until they touch
ed the ground
Selma Hobbs loved the spruce tree
as passionately as she loved the few
bits of old china that she had saved
from the ruthless hands of the collec,
tors Of antiques.
OF all these things Selma loved the
spruce tree most-it was animate. II
had actually witnessed death and dis,
aster and fire as each aff1ictioh de
scended upon the Hobbs family. Sell
ma was so poor that she seldom spent
money even for the simple village
pleasures. On such occasions people
laughed. not unkindly. and said thai
''Selina Hobbs was to home looking al
her spruce tree.
1t was spring. and the tree was
bright with the fash of gay feathers
as robin and bluebird and Oriole darteG
to and fro Selma was standing on tb'
doorstep when the Tree Man came.
He was not very young nor yet very
old. but he was very smiling and pleas
ant
Il am from the Pettison nurseries.
he explained. We've got an order for
some large sprures for the Goldmaa
estate on the point. thought yours
like to sell that one" He cast an ap
praising eve at Selina's tree.
"SelI my tree" gasped Selma. lean
ing against the door jamb. Why.
couldn't. It's like a-person"
The pleasant eyes scanned Selma
narrowly They saw little wisp of q
woman. with faded light hair pinned
around her shapely head: pale, dell
cately nodded features lighted by deeI
blue eyes The blue cotton dress was
vastly becoming to Selma had she
known it, but she no longer studied
prettiness Of attire.
Its too had You feel that way about
It. could offer you two hundred and
fifty for It. said the Tree Man
Selma stared
"It's the very handsonest one | evel
saw. and I've handled some trees ID
nv day You see,." he continued. 1T.
90 situated that we could take II nT
and transplant II easily. and It would
make grand windbreak f0r"-
~ won't sell--not for millionT' IN
terr,lpted Selma jealousy. although
her common sense told her that thu
price Of the tree wtnld bny her mea
ger food for three years
81 won't sell" she repeated finally.
The Tree Man reluctantly turnec
away.
I'm sorry. ma'am." he said. ''0I
course a trees only tree. after all.
and dollars are dollars. Almost any
thunderstorm might bring stroke OF
lightning that. would split 1t up
LAS If l hadn't thought Of that.
walled Selma. Il never used to mind
but now a fash Ut
lightning sets me all Of a-tremble.
could spare the house sooner"
.Well. I guess I'll be going along"
murmured the Tree Man. Its too bad
your folks didn't set out this whole
hillside in spruces There'd be lot
of money coming to you now. and
transplanting 'em isn't like killing
trees for timber, you know. Goodby,
ma'am, and II you're ever over our way
come and see our nurseries"
THANK you" said Selma. I'D like
to come
She watched the Tree Man until be
was out of sight She saw him turn
several times and look back at the
the spruce. At least Selma thought
he was looking at the spruce; but, In
fact, he was looking at Selina's slim
figure outlined against the dark back
ground Of the doorway He was a
lonely man. and the picture haunted
him. All his life he had dreamed O.
woman waiting his coming just like
that.
Before dawn the next day there
came violent thunderstorm. The
lightning played with evil persistency
around the old Hobbs place.
20 Lord. spare the tree" prayed
Selma. with her face pressed agains
the dripping windowpane.
Then came the blasting stroke.
The spruce tree was spared, but tht
remnant OF the old homestead received
the deadly bolt
BY superhumaD exertion Selma drag
ged her most precious belongings Il
the shelter of the spruce tree by tn,
gate
. Down there under the dry protec
ton of its branches Selma Hobbs
swayed gently in the old Boston rock
er that had been her fathers favor
tie seat. Gathered around her were
pieces of treasured furniture, clothing
old china and pictures. Nothing hat