172 SEE-SAW,

him on the bark wherever he moved. It was his
constitutional stroll, and he had continued it all
the season, pursuing his morning reflections without
interruption, and taking his nap in the grass after-
wards, as regularly as the days came round.

But napping through such lamentation was im-
possible, and accordingly he once more began to
crawl up the side of the felled oak, his head turn-
ing now to one side, now to the other, his horns
extended to the utmost, that, if possible, he might
see what was the matter.

But he could not make out, though he kept all
his eyes open, in the strict sense of the words ; so
by and by he made the inquiry of his old friend
the tree. |

“What is the matter, do you ask?” groaned the
oak more heavily than ever—“ you who can change
your position and act independently when you
wish ; you who are not left a useless log as I am, |
the scorn and sport of my own kith and kin? Yes,

_ the very planks who balance themselves on my
body, and mock me by their activity, have pro-
bably come from my own bosom, and once hung on