At the close of the next day the travelers came to the edge of the
forest, and tarried while their leader lit the fire at the roots of the
oak. Now the flames went upward and flashed in the darkness; for it was
evening, and not a star was visible. The flames rose upward and touched
not even the bark of another tree, but wound closely around the oak, as
though it knew its work and that the light of that tree only was needed
to pass the travelers through in safety. It touched their hearts to thus
witness that the life of the noble oak must be sacrificed, and they
offered, with one accord, a silent prayer that its life might be extended
in a higher form. Having passed through, they tarried at the end of
the forest until the flames died away, and then pursued their journey.
* * * * *
Years passed away. From the pile of ashes left by the departed oak
sprang lovely flowers, which charmed the eyes of all the trees in the
forest, and atoned, in a great measure, for the loss of their noble
companion.
After a brief period workmen were seen in the forest felling the trees.
"Ah!" exclaimed the old pine who had refused to give its life for the
travelers, "I don't see as we have gained anything. If our life is to go,
it might as well have gone by the fire as by the axe."
"Just so," answered the beach, "only if we had perished by the fire
we might now be coming again into another form of life, as our oak seems
to be, from that pile of dust and ashes; for see what lovely blossoms are
coming forth from that unsightly heap of dust.
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