the　wood；　even　to　the　brown　and　feathery　rushes；　grew　with　the　rest；
  while　the　birds　ascended　with　the　melody　of　song。　On　a　blade　of　grass；
  that　fluttered　in　the　air　like　a　long；　green　ribbon；　sat　a
  grasshopper；　cleaning　his　wings　with　his　legs。　May　beetles　hummed；　the
  bees　murmured；　the　birds　sang；　each　in　his　own　way；　the　air　was　filled
  with　the　sounds　of　song　and　gladness。〃
  〃But　where　is　the　little　blue　flower　that　grows　by　the　water？〃
  asked　the　oak；　〃and　the　purple　bell…flower；　and　the　daisy？〃　You　see
  the　oak　wanted　to　have　them　all　with　him。
  〃Here　we　are；　we　are　here；〃　sounded　in　voice　and　song。
  〃But　the　beautiful　thyme　of　last　summer；　where　is　that？　and　the
  lilies…of…the…valley；　which　last　year　covered　the　earth　with　their
  bloom？　and　the　wild　apple…tree　with　its　lovely　blossoms；　and　all　the
  glory　of　the　wood；　which　has　flourished　year　after　year？　even　what　may
  have　but　now　sprouted　forth　could　be　with　us　here。〃
  〃We　are　here；　we　are　here；〃　sounded　voices　higher　in　the　air；　as
  if　they　had　flown　there　beforehand。
  〃Why　this　is　beautiful；　too　beautiful　to　be　believed；〃　said　the
  oak　in　a　joyful　tone。　〃I　have　them　all　here；　both　great　and　small；　not
  one　has　been　forgotten。　Can　such　happiness　be　imagined？〃　It　seemed
  almost　impossible。
  〃In　heaven　with　the　Eternal　God；　it　can　be　imagined；　and　it　is
  possible；〃　sounded　the　reply　through　the　air。
  And　the　old　tree；　as　it　still　grew　upwards　and　onwards；　felt
  that　his　roots　were　loosening　themselves　from　the　earth。
  〃It　is　right　so；　it　is　best；〃　said　the　tree；　〃no　fetters　hold　me
  now。　I　can　fly　up　to　the　very　highest　point　in　light　and　glory。　And
  all　I　love　are　with　me；　both　small　and　great。　All…　all　are　here。〃
  Such　was　the　dream　of　the　old　oak：　and　while　he　dreamed；　a
  mighty　storm　came　rushing　over　land　and　sea；　at　the　holy　Christmas
  time。　The　sea　rolled　in　great　billows　towards　the　shore。　There　was　a
  cracking　and　crushing　heard　in　the　tree。　The　root　was　torn　from　the
  ground　just　at　the　moment　when　in　his　dream　he　fancied　it　was　being
  loosened　from　the　earth。　He　fell…　his　three　hundred　and　sixty…five
  years　were　passed　as　the　single　day　of　the　Ephemera。　On　the　morning　of
  Christmas…day；　when　the　sun　rose；　the　storm　had　ceased。　From　all　the
  churches　sounded　the　festive　bells；　and　from　every　hearth；　even　of　the
  smallest　hut；　rose　the　smoke　into　the　blue　sky；　like　the　smoke　from
  the　festive　thank…offerings　on　the　Druids'　altars。　The　sea　gradually
  became　calm；　and　on　board　a　great　ship　that　had　withstood　the
  tempest　during　the　night；　all　the　flags　were　displayed；　as　a　token
  of　joy　and　festivity。　〃The　tree　is　down！　The　old　oak；…　our　landmark　on
  the　coast！〃　exclaimed　the　sailors。　〃It　must　have　fallen　in　the　storm
  of　last　night。　Who　can　replace　it？　Alas！　no　one。〃　This　was　a　funeral
  oration　over　the　old　tree；　short；　but　well…meant。　There　it　lay
  stretched　on　the　snow…covered　shore；　and　over　it　sounded　the　notes
  of　a　song　from　the　ship…　a　song　of　Christmas　joy；　and　of　the
  redemption　of　the　soul　of　man；　and　of　eternal　life　through　Christ's
  atoning　blood。
  〃Sing　aloud　on　the　happy　morn；
  All　is　fulfilled；　for　Christ　is　born；
  With　songs　of　joy　let　us　loudly　sing；
  'Hallelujahs　to　Christ　our　King。'〃
  Thus　sounded　the　old　Christmas　carol；　and　every　one　on　board　the
  ship　felt　his　thoughts　elevated；　through　the　song　and　the　prayer；　even
  as　the　old　tree　had　felt　lifted　up　in　its　last；　its　beautiful　dream　on
  that　Christmas　morn。
  THE　END
  。