story they shook their heads in doubt. Then the acorn said: [Pg 64] “This is the true secret of fire. If you do not believe it why do you not try it for yourselves.” They took this advice and all the trees learned that what he had said was true. They were so happy that they spent the whole night in singing and dancing. In the morning, when they saw the great blue mountains and the beautiful valley, many of them settled down upon the hillside for life. The pines looked up and saw hundreds of trees with their shining arms. They were so frightened that they climbed high up on the mountain side. There they stayed a long, long time. They grew sad and lonely, and often sighed and wished for their old home and comforts. But they [Pg 65] were brave and strong-hearted, and helped each other. [Pg 65] At last, some of them came down into the valley again. Through suffering they had grown strong and unselfish. They gave their best trees to the people and their fairest to the children at Christmas time. Indeed, there is not a tree in the world to-day more loved than the pine tree, who first had the secret of fire. [Pg 66] [Pg 66] A FAIRY STORY. OME fairies once lived in a dark glen in a pine forest. They were real fairies, many of them not higher than a pin. Their greatest treasure was a magic cap which had been in the fairy family for many generations. The most wonderful thing about the cap was that it fitted exactly any one who wore it. When one fairy put it on, he and all the others became invisible.
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