Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-02-14
S0l0neS0n1e
.HeFe|| In Love
wilma Tree

evergreen water oak returned the affectlon even
TO the life by grief-is matter of record
today in the little village Of Suahye, in Syria
The remarkable animal vegetable affection came to
light only recently when the human lover was laid to
rest in diversified grave with his adored COM
The mourners who attended the funeral wept as much
for the faithful aged Zacro AbabaJc who
had made twin-armed branch of "Arabela
than half his life. Ababaje gave his oak the
child wife, who had died in his early youth
and whose passing sent the man on lonely quest Tor
friendship than threequarters Of the globe
The affinity between the and the tree started
one night during a violent rain when Ababaje,
penniless suffering from pneumonia left his park
bench and climbed trunk 10 find shelter in it's
branches The miracle of firs-sight love" according
to Ababaje night when the fought the
for him and not drop of water wet his clothes
From that first night Arabella really took the old man
to her bosom She showed him in many little ways that
she understood his need for love During
the first moments of the storm big, eafy branch OF
Arabea which was nowhere near the saggng boughs
where the visitor rested moved over him as II by some
miracle and seemed tighten up and other
branches turned from their usual positions TO form tight
little house Ababajes protection
recovered Ababaje decided 20 stay IN the
permanent guest" and 10 repay Arabella for
her Kindness brought buckets of water for her roots
the greatest tree in the park Ababaje often
patted the tree affectonately and Arabela ne said
seemed understand him, and rIsted answers to his
endearments with her eaYes.
Gradually according to Ababae, the curved place IN
where he slept each night seemed to mold
itself the better to fit his body
Ababaje said he the tree loved hins much
as he loved The why. he finally figured out
Arabellas location in the park far from any
other tree She was as lonesome in her solitude as Ababae
was in She him home each night with little
rppes excitement which caused her highest branches TO
great sweeps although there often not the
slightest breeze.
= All of this story light during Ababaies
district magistrates court Of Sulahye
when the aged arrested for assault on group
of landscape gardeners Arabea down make
way a curvng thoroughfare through the park.
Ababaje readily admitted attacking the workmen with
stones bits of wood handsful dirt but said that
murder Tearfuy he pleaded for the judge TO spare
beloved and described his half-century
instead of receiving his pleas sympahecally the
Judge was indignant thinking the prisoner trying
to fool of his court He imposed whoppng fine
which he thought the old could pay gave him
a lecture the of throwing stones and the
stupidity telling fairy tales To everyones surprise
Ababaj paid his court assessment of 5000 French francs
from bulgng wallet
Remember now" the Judge said after he had recov-
cred surprise seeing such large in the
possession regarded by everyone penniless
tramp you're forbidden to go near the park for two
years Leave those wormen alone They're going to cut
down that tree whether you like it or not
Ababaje left the court in tears.
His trial had affected him seriously His already
weakened heart pumped violently. He knew he had
not long live. He made his way fast as he could
to the side of Arabela not knowing whether he would
find a stump his graceful friend still standing
When Ababaje steahily sldrted the park, he
afraid look but he turned his head slowly and there
stood Arabela saluting him violently. Her trunk rocked
though she being uprooted by an earthquake.
Ababaje stumbling toward her, embraced her trunk,
sobbng as though his heart would break.
The next morning when the workmen 20
Arabella down, they found the tree had died during
the night Her sap had out through her roots
all her dead-except those that bankeed the
dead body Ababaje who lay still in the protecting
of his friend The villagers say Arabea died Of broken
heart after the old mans heart stopped beating
Sentimental tree with trucks and took
them away. and in the longest dug in
Syria they together bronze plaque, bought
by popular subscription carried the lines of the immortal
poem: 'Woodman, Spare That Tree