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FAMOUS SONGS
pant of the cottage. ' What are you going to do ?' asked my friend. ' What is that to you ?' was the reply. ' You are not going to cut that tree down, surely?' 'Yes, but I am, though,' said the woodman. ' What for ?' inquired my companion, almost choked with emotion. ' What for!—I like that! Well, I'll tell you what for. This tree makes my dwelling un-healthy ; it stands too near the house; prevents the moisture from exhaling and renders us liable to fever and ague!' 'Have you any other reason for cutting it down ?' ' Yes: I am getting old; the woods are a great way off, and this tree is of value to me to burn.' He was soon convinced that the story about the fever and the ague was a mere fiction, and then asked what the tree was worth as firewood. ' Why, when it is down, about ten dollars.' ' Suppose I should give you that sum, would you let it stand ?' ' Yes.' ' You are sure of that ?' ' Positive.' ' Then give me a bond to that effect/ I drew it up; it was witnessed by his daughter; the money was paid, and we left the place with an assur-ance from the young girl, who looked as smiling and beautiful as Hebe, that the tree should stand as long as she lived. We returned to the road and pursued our ride. The circumstances made a strong impression on my mind, and
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