ee
tops, just waking in the evening to fan the cheeks of the dark-eyed
southern ladies for an hour, and then sinking to sleep again under the
shining stars; and the terrible northern seas, with their fleets of
icebergs, whose pilot he loved to be, guiding them hither and thither,
tossing the waves about, and sporting with the seals and walruses on the
flat ice-cakes. "And some day, little leaves," he said, "you shall go
with me to see these wonders; not to the arctic seas, for you are too
tender and delicate to bear the cold; but away to the south, to the
coral islands and the orange-groves. There you will see all the beauty
of the world, and will laugh at the thought of having been content in
this dull meadow, with its stupid daisies and buttercups, and its paltry
little brook. Also you will find many cousins there, leaves such as you
never dreamed of, wonderful in size and shape and color. Say, then,
little playmates, will you come with me, and see all these beautiful
things, and many more?"

But the leaves shook their little heads, and said, "No, dear Wind! we
love you, and it would be delightful to go with you, but we cannot leave
our father Tree, who is so kind to us, and loves us so dearly."

At first the Wind seemed angry, but soon he smiled and said, "Never
mind! some day you will come,--some day!" and away he flew. But oh! the
next time he came, what a different Wind he was! no longer gentle,
playful, caressing, but fierce, and rough, and stormy. He rushed at the
great Tree, howling furiously. He seized the little leaves, and whirled
and dashed them about, trying to tear them from the branches; and flung
himself against the Tree, as if he would even loose his rooted hold on
the ground. But the leaves clung closer and closer, trembling and
shivering; and the great Tree braced himself, and met the fierce blast
bravely, never losing an inch of his foothold, and giving back blow for
blow with his long powerful arms. At last the Wind was tired and flew
away, howling and moaning with anger and disappointment. The little
leaves were sadly frightened, but their father Tree comforted them, and
said, "Courage, my children! I have fought many a battle with the Wind,
and he has never beaten me yet. Only be brave and faithful, and he
cannot overcome you."

At first the leaves thought they never wanted to see or hear the Wind
again; but a few days after, to their great surprise, he came again,
soft and gentle, as he had u