after that the Master came to the forest, and when He came
it always was to where the tree stood. Many times He rested beneath
the tree and enjoyed the shade of its foliage, and listened to the
music of the wind as it swept through the rustling leaves. Many times
He slept there, and the tree watched over Him, and the forest was
still, and all its voices were hushed. And the angel hovered near like
a faithful sentinel.

Ever and anon men came with the Master to the forest, and sat with Him
in the shade of the tree, and talked with Him of matters which the
tree never could understand; only it heard that the talk was of love
and charity and gentleness, and it saw that the Master was beloved and
venerated by the others. It heard them tell of the Master's goodness
and humility,--how He had healed the sick and raised the dead and
bestowed inestimable blessings wherever He walked. And the tree loved
the Master for His beauty and His goodness; and when He came to the
forest it was full of joy, but when He came not it was sad. And the
other trees of the forest joined in its happiness and its sorrow, for
they, too, loved the Master. And the angel always hovered near.

The Master came one night alone into the forest, and His face was pale
with anguish and wet with tears, and He fell upon His knees and
prayed. The tree heard Him, and all the forest was still, as if it
were standing in the presence of death. And when the morning came,
lo! the angel had gone.

[Illustration: "They are killing me!" cried the tree.]

Then there was a great confusion in the forest. There was a sound of
rude voices, and a clashing of swords and staves. Strange men
appeared, uttering loud oaths and cruel threats, and the tree was
filled with terror. It called aloud for the angel, but the angel came
not.

"Alas," cried the vine, "they have come to destroy the tree, the pride
and glory of the forest!"

The forest was sorely agitated, but it was in vain. The strange men
plied their axes with cruel vigor, and the tree was hewn to the
ground. Its beautiful branches were cut away and cast aside, and its
soft, thick foliage was strewn to the tenderer mercies of the winds.

"They are killing me!" cried the tree; "why is not the angel here to
protect me?"

But no one heard the piteous cry,--none but the other trees of the
forest; and they wept, and the little vine wept too.

Then the cruel men dragged the despoiled and hewn tree from the
forest, and t