In the city to which the pine was taken, lay a large and beautiful ship lately launched into the water. On this the pine was erected as a mast, and on the highest point waved the flag. But the proud mast could not carry the ship forward. Then there came a great white cloth; that was the sail. It went up after the mast, wrapped itself around it, spread itself out like a giant wing, and caught the wind on its wide curve. The sail was woven of linen that grew out in the field on the edge of the wood; and the friends who were so dear to each other clasped each other faithfully. Out over the blue waves and the foaming billows they went, to new, beautiful lands and unknown places. It was life, it was pleasure, to go on united, side by side. The wind, who travels with messages around the world, flew to the forest, to the thistle, and the burdock, and told them that the pine and the flax, now united, were traveling over the ocean. "Who would have believed it?" whispered the forest trees. "Who could have believed it?" said the burdock and its comrades. But the pine and the flax believed it. They believed in each other. ALBREKT SEGERSTEDT. THE SCOTTISH SHEPHERD IN WINTER. When red hath set the beamless sun, Oft he looks forth, and hopes, in vain, Long, with dejected look and whine, The blast, that whistles o'er the fells, Oft he looks back, while streaming far, If fails his heart, if his limbs fail, WALTER SCOTT. I slept, and dreamed that life was Beauty; ELLEN STURGIS HOOPER. |