quite near to them. No one but the
tin soldier saw that it came from a rag of the leather which hung in
tatters. It had lost all its gilding and looked like wet earth, but it
had an opinion, and it spoke it thus:

"Gilding wears out with time and bad weather,
But leather endures; there's nothing like leather."

But the tin soldier did not believe any such thing.

[Illustration]

THE CONCEITED APPLE BRANCH

IT WAS the month of May. The wind still blew cold, but from bush and
tree, field and flower, came the welcome sound, "Spring is come."

Wild flowers in profusion covered the hedges. Under the little apple
tree Spring seemed busy, and he told his tale from one of the branches,
which hung fresh and blooming and covered with delicate pink blossoms
that were just ready to open.

The branch well knew how beautiful it was; this knowledge exists as much
in the leaf as in the blood. I was therefore not surprised when a
nobleman's carriage, in which sat the young countess, stopped in the
road just by. The apple branch, she said, was a most lovely object, an
emblem of spring in its most charming aspect. The branch was broken off
for her, and she held it in her delicate hand and sheltered it with her
silk parasol.

Then they drove to the castle, in which were lofty halls and splendid
drawing-rooms. Pure white curtains fluttered before the open windows,
and beautiful flowers stood in transparent vases. In one of them, which
looked as if it had been cut out of newly fallen snow, the apple branch
was placed among some fresh light twigs of beech. It was a charming
sight. And the branch became proud, which was very much like human
nature.

People of every description entered the room, and according to their
position in society so dared they to express their admiration. Some few
said nothing, others expressed too much, and the apple branch very soon
got to understand that there was as much difference in the characters of
human beings as in those of plants and flowers. Some are all for pomp
and parade, others have a great deal to do to maintain their own
importance, while the rest might be spared without much loss to
society. So thought the apple branch as he stood before the open
window, from which he could see out over gardens and fields, where there
were flowers and plants enough for him to think and reflect upon--some
rich and beautiful, some poor and humble indeed.

"Poor despised he