“What the Pine Tree Learned”

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12181, 4 July 1925, Page 16

“What the Pine Tree Learned”

nee upon a time three friends lived top of .a mountain—a Bird, a ok, and a little Pine Tree. x the summer they were very py, and laughed and chatted while long, pleasant days lasted. fUt one morning in the early umn the Bird flew to the topmost neh of the Pine Tree and looked |off over the distant country. [Many birds are flying south,” he { at last, fluttering his wings with itement, “and X, too, shall soon Jo to leave you.” J Oh, please don’t go,” begged the ie Tree. ,“Onlv stay here this win- , and IT! cover you with my tiches so that you will not feel the iut the bird shook bis head. “Even i could not keep me warm when > winter winds blow,” he replied, id to-morrow I must go.” 'fext day the Pine Tree and the Dok were alone, and although they ssed the Bird, still they were ppy to be together and told each ler stories until the shadows fell the mountain top and the sun nfc down to rest. 5o the days passed; till finally, en the ground w as brown and bare 3 Brook spoke to the Pine Tree in low, sweet murmur. ‘The time lias come when I must tve you, my friend,” lie said sadly, or the North Wind tells me that tha ? King is very near.” “Oh. don’t go,” exclaimed the Pin** ee. his soft green needles quivering the sunlight. “You need never be lonely,” return the Brook, softly, “as you will irn.” And while the Pine Tree bent close as he could to listen, a delite film of ice spread gently over the 'ook and his voice grew fainter said

fainter until it ceased altogether. Then the Pine Tree was very sad indeed, and dropped his branches to the ground, weeping bitter tears. Many days and weeks he stood this way, quite different from th*. happy little Pine Tree of the summer time.' One night, however, much to bis ©urprise, he thought he heard someone calling him. “Little Pine Tree, little Pine Tree,” the words , came clearly through the quiet air, **\vhy don’t you look up?’* At first the Pine Tree thought he was mistaken; but when he heard his name again, he shook off the mantle of snow which covered him from top to toe, and raised his head. And now he saw smiling down at hint a bright, beautiful Star, shining like a great jewel in the velvet sky. “I’ve been watching you every night, little Pine Tree,” sang the Star in silvery tones, “waiting for tljie time when you would look up and find me/’ “Do you really mean that you no ticed me ’w\ay down here?” asked the Pine Tree eagerly. “Indeed I did,” replied the Star, “and wanted to be your friend; but until you were ready you could not hoar me when I called/ Then the Pine Tree was -ashamed, and hung his head. “To think you were there all the time,” he murmured. "and I did not know'!” “Well, you do now/' answered the Star. “If you had only looked upr before, you would have found me long ago.” So the little Pine Tree was happy once more. For in winter -he had the Star, and in summer the Bird and the Brook.