The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-09-18
DADDY.) Y.)fVfNINQH
FAIRY TALE IA
6y hary Graham Bonner inner EA
MOTHER EUCALYPTUS STORY.


II must tell you the story Mother
Eucalyptus told to her friends" said
Daddy.
WED be delighted to hear the
story" said Nancy. but we have no
idea what sort OF mother she was /
can't even pronounce her name"
at Is bit hard" said Nick. II
guess won't try. But tell US the
story, Daddy. and tell us whether she
was n mother person or mother ami
NAL or mother bird or mother
fish,"
"She wasn't any OF those" said
Daddy.
"what was shei" asked Nancy. II
can't imagine"
81 give II up" said Nick.
swell, as neither OF you think you
can guess" said Daddy, II will tell
you that she was n tree.
"Yes, Mother Eucalyptus Tree told
this story to some other trees when
they were all talking about their fam
lily histories and what they were IA
nous for and what they had done. So
shall tell you her story"
"Do," said Nancy, "for now know
just wnat she was l want to hear"
"Please go on. Daddy" begged Nick.
"'Friends.' said Mother Eucalyptus.
I must tell you that we are very use
full. we have been very useful and we
Will still be very useful
"All the trees nodded their heads
politely and bowed their branches
and said, Pray continue
"'We can give forth lots of oil. In
stead OF giving slrup like our friends
the maple trees give (at least we have
heard that they gave maple sirup. and
as for being our friends, we consider
all trees our friends), we give oil.
"'That makes us useful. We do
good that way. For this oil that we
give cures sicknesses sometimes and
drives away bad germs. Our leaves
are perfectly fine as regular little doc
tors and hospitals. II II weren't that
we needed them they would probably
go into hospitals. wear caps and
aprons and have patients as nurses
have.
"'And some Of our leaves might
dress themselves up as doctors and
carry little bags with pills and could
say TO different people:
"'Please show us your tongue. And
please tell US II your appetite Is good
"They can't dress up and 60 as
doctors ami nurses TO the hospitals.
but they're useful Just the same.
"'Our dear little baby blue gum
seedlings also do great deal Of
work.
"'How interesting your story is.'
said the other trees. DO go on
""rhank you said Mother Eucalyp-
tus Tree, for liking my story. 1t is
a comfort TO feel that one isn't idllng
ones life away. ! would hate to feel.
that was an idle tree and did moth
ing at all. am sure would be
most unhappy
"'You can't be unhappy because you
aren't Idle and because you do good
said the other trees. That must be
the secret Of your happiness. You're
so busy
~ do believe you're right, trees
said Mother Eucalyptus Tree.
swell she continued after n
pause, the baby blue-gum seedlings
take up water very quickly and can
drink or snp 1t up without any trouble.
$50 we used to be planted where
there were marshes and we would
drink up the marshy. unhealthy water
because It wouldn't hurt us. and we
knew II would hurt others. oh, how
many mosquitoes we've driven away.
because we made the land no longer
marshy and so they didn't like II.
1--WE used TO be planted so we
would do this work as q regular busl-
ness and we did lot OF good But
whenever we get the chance we do
what we can. for we know we are
given these helpful leaves and seed
lings TO do special work for the
world. And we do 1t whenever we
can. and enjoy doing II too
you're fine tree, and your family
Is fine family said the other trees
admiringly, and Mother Eucalyptus
smiled and bowed most polite
"'Thank you."