THE TREES THAT WERE DOOMED

Evening Post, Issue 28, 1 August 1936, Page 20

THE TREES THAT WERE DOOMED

(Written for Arbor Page by "Billie Dove," 13.)

qpHERE was a strange whispering and sighing in the branches of the >^ie trees at the foot of the hiii. At all times the whisper of the pines i can be heard, but these-whisper ings were sad and mournful. For hundreds of years those pines Tiad stood Hhere, proud monarchs of the tree world and now what was to be their fate? \ . "In two days' time we are to be cut down, my sons. Never, more shall .we gaze around and . know that littlq children are hurrying along to play hide-and-seek amongst us. We are to be used as firewood. And in our place will be houses," sighed Old Pine,,the Very oldest of them all. "Houseshouses—houses," came back the sighing echo. "We, who have stood here, year afterAyear. We, who watched the towns spreading. We are to be-ruthlessly killed. My sons, it is unfair," he cried. "Unfair—unfair—unfair," the other pines echoed. A little girl came dancing down the road. Close behind came a little boy. "See, Bobby? These are my.pines. I love to play here," the girl smiled. She .was ten and all her life she had been Watched over by the pines at the foot of the hill. \ "They are beauties, Ellie. What a sham* it is that they are going to be cut down,""the eleven-year-old boy agreed, as.he surveyed the majestic pines. "Cut down! What do you mean?" the girl cried. "Cut down—cut down—cut down," whispered the pines. "Your father is going to build some new houses here, instead," the boy told her. \

The girl started to cry, and the Pines wailed in unison. That night, though the pines did not know, a little girl pleaded and pleaded for them to remain as they were. But her pleadings Were in vain, and the trees seemed doomed to die. \ In the branched, hundreds—no—thousands of\ birds Iwlttered piteously. For years the trees had been their friends during\ the nesting season. The night before the fatal day a great Bird Conference", was held. All the birds gathered round, arid Old Pine started to speak to them. ' "Birds, the Pines, here, have always been your friends, have they not?" -"Yes! Oh, yes!" twittered the birds.

"I have a plan by which you can help us Pines. But the plan is a very dangerous one, and may mean death to many of you, Are you willing to hear my plan?" said Old Pine, very solemnly. "We are willing," the birds cried with one accord. ' They listened to his plan, and although very many shivered because they had no wish to die, Old Pine's plan was accepted. Early next morning six men. armed with sharp axes, arrived at the end of the pine-belt. Slowly they got ready to start, but before the first blow could fall there came a sudden whirr of tiny wings, and down fluttered thousands of birds. Each, man was pecked so mercilessly that, at last, all six. of them turned and fled.

Nothing happened until next day, when the Pines overheard a conversation between Mr. Jenks and Mr. Smith. , . .

"So the'rid pines are not to be destroyed, after all," said' Mr. Jenks. • "No," replied Msv Smith. "The master thinks that, after what happened yesterday, nobody should touch those trees. Darn good job, too." The two men passed on. The trees still whisper. But now their whispers are happy, for they know that for ever they will stay kings of the tree-world. "For ever! For ever!"

ELVES-OF-THE-RING: As Arbor Day happens in the middle of next week, pixie people, ive are-having our special page tonight. I hope you will enjoy reading the stories and poems written about trees as much as I did. Most_ boys and girls wrote about the trees as if they were people. When next you look at a patch of trees you may find it fun to see how many different kinds of people they represent. You've all seen the twisted and gnarled old grey trunk, the grand old man t of the bush. Then there are those that toss thick leafy branches like sturdy children with tousled heads,' the graceful lady, the willow, trailing languid fingers in the stream, and the dancing trees of the bush, the dainty lacebarks and lancewoods. They are all there, if you look. Do you know all our nativetrees by leaf and name? They are very easy to remember, once you -begin to study them, and it is interesting to be able to point them out and \to know all about them when you go picnicking near the bush in. summer days. You might even begin a Nature diary by mounting pressed leaves on one page and writing details of the trees opposite" them. You all worked very hard for this Tree Page but, much as we puzzled and planned,. Printer Man and 1 couldn't possibly - make room for any more drawings and stories. Those elves who may expect a visit from the Postman are Irene Clarkson, "Billie Dove," and "Wandering Lass." FAIRIEL