Autumn Comes To The Forest

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 154, 26 March 1938, Page 9 (Supplement)

Autumn Comes To The Forest

TVITH autumn, the forest became very rich and lovely. All summer it had murmured sleepily in a soft, green coat. But now, as if in warning of cold days to come, a spark had fallen and spread, so that right through the tall glades a gold and re'd fire was slowly burning, and the graceful trees seemed more beautiful for the change. The air was soft, yet like wine; it breathed and pulsed and fanned the (lame. Under the moss and fern was springy and firm. A soft, sad song seemed to wander down the burning bush.

Very deep, right in the heart of the forest, a bird was flying lightly and happily; in the pale sun that crinkled through the leaves it was warm, so the bird .sang happily. Presently, alighting near a little stream, and hopping gaily about, he saw a mole busily digging into the rich, dark earth of

the river bank. The bird stopped his play and watched curiously. "What are you doing?” he sai'd. The mole did not look up, because he could not see. But he said: ... "Soon it will be cold, so coUl that everything will die, and I am going deep down where it is warm, and where I can sleep away the winter.” The bird was puzzled. Cold? Cold? What could that mean? He couldn’t understand this surly fellow, so busily digging beneath the happy world, pushing his way from the fresh trees and the sky. But when winter came the trees lost their loveliness, the tire was put out, and the bird, perched discontentedly on a high branch, saw beneath only a cruel, glaring white carpet, where the .soft green an'd gold had been. And when the keen winds blew he shivered and saw fearfully the great, grey clouds on the horizon. Soon the bird had to fly, fly to the suuny lands to save his poor shivering little body. Under the white river bank the old mole snored happily, very warm. —D.M., Wellington.