THE SSECRER OF FIRE:

A TREE STORY.

4

NE summer night a great army of pine

~via trees settled downin a quiet valley to rest.

“ex They were a tall, dark, grave-looking
company. .
- They held their heads high in the air, for they
were the only trees in the world who knew the
wonderful secret of fire.

High above this valley, on the hillside, lived a
little company of oaks.

They were young, brave, and strong-hearted.

When they saw the great band of pines march-
ing into the valley, the tallest one said:

“Let us make them divide the gift of fire with
us.”
“No,” said the oldest, wisest oak, “we must not
risk, foolishly, the lives of our acorns. We could
do nothing against so many.”

All the acorns had been listening to what the
tree said. | Each one longed to help in finding out
the great secret.