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<h2><SPAN name="WHAT_THE_TREES_SAID_TO_ME" id="WHAT_THE_TREES_SAID_TO_ME" /><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></SPAN>[78]</span>WHAT THE TREES SAID TO ME</h2> <p>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.</p> <p>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 <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></SPAN>[79]</span>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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."</p> <p>Turning my steps homeward I said to the kindly trees, "Good-by, and thank you. I shall never forget this morning's walk."</p> <p>MEMORY VERSE, <i>Isaiah</i> 61: 3</p> <div class="blockquot"><p>"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."</p> </div> <p>MEMORY HYMN [745]</p> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span><i>"Into the woods my Master went."</i><br/></span></div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />

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