THE TREE AND THE FOREST.
A STORY WRITTEN FOR THE YOUNG, BUT WHICH MAY BE READ BY THE OLD.
'What splendid trees!' said Monsieur D'Ambly, as he was passing by a
fine forest of oaks.
'What a splendid fire they would make!' replied his son Eugene.
Eugene had read a few days before in a book of travels the
description of a wood on fire, and he could think of nothing else. He
was an admirer of everything that was uncommon, everything that
produced an effect or a commotion, and, like most children, he
seldom carried his ideas beyond what he saw.
'If it would not injure any person,' said he, 'I would be very glad
this forest would take fire; it would be a glorious sight. I am sure,
papa, that its light would extend as far as the chateau.'
'Would it then be such a pleasant thing to see a tree burning?'
'Oh, a tree,' said Eugene, 'that would be hardly worth the trouble;
but a forest would be magnificent.'
'Since we are on the subject of burning,' said Monsieur D'Ambly, 'I
think it would be well to cut down that young lime-tree on the lawn
opposite the chateau; it grows too fast; and if it should spread much
more, it would quite intercept our view; I will therefore cut it down
for fuel.
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