WHERE THE BELL-BIRD CHIMES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 83

WHERE THE BELL-BIRD CHIMES.

By Edith Howes.

IV.--EATA.

Where green leaves, parted, showed between their dancing tips a tiny space of ■unused earth a seed lay fallen from its sun-split wocdy capsule. Wrought on by mist and rain, by warmth of gclden rays and brea-th of summer breezes stealing through the hillside undergrowth, tie vital forces pent within the narrow walls broke forth in root and stem and leaf. Swiftly, silently, resistless'.y, the young life thus begun pursued its destined course of growth, drawing at need upon the richest gifts m Nature's treasure house, yei forced to fight its way to those sweet gifts through paths of difficulty, and strengthened by th© cannier into, ever grea.fcer power. The root, with tender-growing tiT protected by a dainty shield!, moved to and fro in eafcreh cf what was best for stem and leaves. Turning aside where rocks debarred it" course, twisting itself round stones and greater roots, piercing ever deeper through the life-sustaining soil, spreading out en every side its branching, aiding roots, it formed at last a netted labyrinth of strength to hold the tree through stormy days and nights of fine-skinned tubes through which were drawn the essences of growth. Above the ground the slender stem pushed insh by inch its green- crowned head beyond tbe boughs that hid the sun from view. Day after day, month after month, its upward eearch for light and space went on, till freedom of the air v,--a.s reached, and joyous boughs could spring from every side. Year after year the hardening trunk swelled out in ever-circling growth, forming each spring new channels for the racing cap, till full stature of a tree was reached. Silky pointed baby leavea' unirolled themselves on every new-formed branch to stiffen into firm-set surfaces of glossy green. In' them the marvellous was daily wrought, the hidden alchemy, the mystic changing of the circling air and golden light info green of leaf and stem, into strength of root and trunk. Pendulous and slen-der the narrow leaves hung, turning shining faces ever to the journeying sun, silently, untiringly unating with the roots in the feeding and upbuildisg' of the tree. One summer time the flowers came. Bern of rich sweetness stored by -leaves and roots, the soft bads formed 1 and burst, a million little ruby fire 3 beneath the sun. BeM-Wrds and tuis ooms in flocks to feast from nectared cups, to bear from flower to flower the precious pollen grains. On the hill the great tree glowed, a jewel set in green of bush, a crimson flame against the silver sky.