Show THE OAK AND THE VINE being du doll I 1 and jaded with my pressing care and just a little bit the worse for wear one summers morn I 1 thought id take a stroll in quest af pf t cheer to tune my troubled soul I 1 chose a path of solitude to find and the peace I 1 craved to ease my weary mind to make me tor for awhile forget my woe lites lao g common ills that all are born to know tornow the course I 1 traversed led me to a grove bedecked bedecker Be decked with flowers of surpassing un love where birds of plumage gay with happy song lent lustre to the paths I 1 strode along at length I 1 reached an opening in the wood where two lone treelike trees tree sike like friends together stood the one an august handsome stately pine beside whose boughs a slim oak did recline Ke thought 0 oak how great thy risk of harm barm more than thy mates in time of sweeping storm but I 1 bad reason soon to know and see the foolish thought that thus had fiatt flattered ered me A change came on the weather sultry warm had bad bred the cloud that brews the sudden storm the wind began to howl the storm descend the thunder seemed the very air to rend till blinding wind and dust with furious rush drove me for shelter to a clump of brush for one long boor boar the storm did rage and groan and make the trees and shrubs with anguish moan their leaves and limbs flow flew wildly in the air the frightened ned birds chirped notes of aa sad despair ym from where I 1 sat I 1 clearly could descry the two lone trees the tempest well defy the oaks top branches bent and lashed the ground the pines proud spears made many a strange rebound at last tired of its struggles with the blast A crash declared the pines proud glory put the calm restored I 1 left my hiding place to scan its prostrate form of love and grace which stood so stately but an hour before its roots now upwards turned torn to the core while by its side the oak that swept the grou ground Bsma ined a sow scar or wound can it be so I 1 questioned that this oakl so go slender unpretentious stood the shook shock that smote the mighty pine and laid it low lew that elen een the place it stood I 1 scarcely know but so it was the storm its work had done the gallant pine its earthly race had run A sacred feeling seemed to touch my mind my thoughts reverted back to human kind I 1 thought of many friends whom I 1 had known whom in an evil hour were overthrown whose lofty genius seemed to reach to heaven yet by some gust of fate was racked and riven till all the glory of their noble heart A prey became to evils treacherous rous art but such is life with men as well as aa trees the one who seems our promise most to please who spreads his branches wide and reaches high As it if he could a world of storm defy Is stricken down the first while like the oak the one outlives the tempests shook shock genius may tower its branches may extend but like the tree its safety will depend upon the roots and soil in which it grows to nerve it for fer the blast that rudely blows these roots and soil are faith in god and heaven the living sap is grace divinely given I 1 reached my home that night as dark began my soul refreshed a wiser better man I 1 must confess my stroll was one of joy my meditations those of sweet employ the moral of the oak and fallen pine has helped me more my life to god resign the joyous notes of birds and frugal besa beas went much and tar far my troubled breast to ease the love and fragrance of the smiling rowers flowers waked visions fond ot of future brighter hours truly indeed there is in natures store A calm of peace to reach the bosoms coro core no better way can bliss be understood than walk with god in paths of solitude J CRYSTAL |