Children's Six Minutes — What The Trees Said To Me

WHAT THE TREES SAID TO ME

Across the street from my home is a large and beautiful park.

It has inviting, winding paths, great quantities of flowers and many varieties of trees.

Early one summer day, before most people were up, I strolled through the park.

I thought I was all alone, but suddenly I heard a voice, "Stand erect.

Do not walk with stooping shoulders.

Head up, shoulders back!"

Now I confess I was walking, and thinking as I walked, with shoulders bent and head forward.

At once I straightened up and looked about to see who was speaking.

It was the voice of a pine tree, growing hard by the path, tall and straight as a plumb line.

"Thank you," I said to the pine.

No sooner had I left the pine, and was again deep in thought, when I heard another voice.

"Be courteous, you can never accomplish anything by scolding, insulting or driving people.

Be fair and just.

Be like Christ, a Christian gentleman."

Now who in the world is speaking to me?

I looked everywhere and there was not the sign of a person in all the park.

"Here I am," the voice said.

I looked and there, right before me, was a graceful elm tree, smiling and courteously bowing low to me.

"I shall try and heed your word," I said.

Going on my way I was no longer absorbed in thought, for I knew that other trees would have something to say.

Sure enough, "Be steadfast," I heard.

What tree could that be?

I should have known at once.

The maple, of course.

Now the white birch beckons.

How its face shines in the light of the early morning!

But dark or light I can distinguish it from all its fellows.

Always white of face and clean of life.

So I hear it say, "Be clean."

Turning my steps homeward I said to the kindly trees, "Good-by, and thank you.

I shall never forget this morning's walk."

MEMORY VERSE, _Isaiah_ 61: 3 "To give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."

MEMORY HYMN [745]