leaf task twice sigh'ing hol'i days

gay twig meant stopped dif'fer ent

puff edge mat'ter au'tumn hun'dreds

lead grew rus'tled Oc to'ber trem'bling


[Illustration: Several large trees; fence in foreground.]


WHAT THE LEAF SAID.

1. Once or twice a little leaf was heard to cry and sigh, as leaves often
do, when a gentle wind is blowing. And the twig said, "What is the matter,
little leaf?"

2. "The wind," said the leaf, "just told me that one day it would pull me
off, and throw me on the ground to die."

3. The twig told it to the branch, and the branch told it to the tree.
When the tree heard it, it rustled all over, and sent word back to the
trembling leaf.

4. "Do not be afraid," it said; "hold on tight, and you shall not go off
till you are ready."

5. So the leaf stopped sighing, and went on singing and rustling. It grew
all the summer long till October. And when the bright days of autumn came,