The Last Dream

itself stretching and spreading out while through the root beneath the earth ran the warm vigor of life. As he grew higher and still higher, with increased strength his topmost boughs became broader and fuller and in proportion to his growth, so was his self-satisfaction increased, and with it arose a joyous longing to grow higher and higher to reach even to the warm, bright sun itself. Already had his topmost branches pierced the clouds, which floated beneath them like troops of birds of passage. or large white swans. every leaf seemed gifted with sight. as if it possessed eyes to see. The stars became visible in broad daylight large and sparkling, like clear and gentle eyes. They recalled to the memory the well-known look in the eyes of a child, or in the eyes of lovers who had once met beneath the branches of the old oak. These were wonderful and happy moments for the old tree, full of peace and joy; and yet, amidst all this happiness, the tree felt a yearning, longing desire that all the other trees, bushes, herbs, and flowers beneath him, might be able also to rise higher as he had done, and to see all this splendor, and experience the same happiness. The grand majestic oak could not be quite happy in the midst of his enjoyment while all the rest, both great and small, were not with him. And this feeling of yearning trembled through every branch through every leaf as warmly and fervently as if they had been the fibres of a human heart. The summit of the tree waved to and fro and bent downwards as if in his silent longing he sought for something. Then there came to him the fragrance of thyme followed by the more powerful scent of honeysuckle and violets and he fancied he heard the note of the cuckoo. At length his longing was satisfied.