LESSON 56 THE FIG-TREE'S STORY

THE FIG-TREE'S STORY

Ⅱ

crea-tures spread-ing sa-lute

ploughs sought rap-id-ly

way-fa-rers built climes

1. Tree by tree the forest fell before the axes of the white men. Wild creatures no longer sought the banks of the stream, but the men brought cows, horses, and dogs to take their places. All came to me for shelter, when the hot sun beat upon the bare ground.

2. The white men turned up the rich soil with their ploughs, and planted corn and sugar-cane. Round their houses they made gardens, in which grew many strange flowers and fruits.

3. Years rolled by, and the cornfields gave place to rows of houses, where many folk came to live. Every morning the men left their homes to go and work in the fields or shops for the sake of their wives and little ones and every evening some of them came and rested in the shade cast by my leaves, while they talked over the doings of the day.

4. Then I learned that the town which was growing on the banks of the river was named Brisbane, and that it was the chief town of a country called Queensland, in honour of a great Queen 〔1〕 whom the people loved.

5. More changes took place. The stream was arched 〔2〕 over, so that I could no longer see its waters, wooden houses were replaced by huge buildings of stone and brick, and a great city rose upon the banks of the noble river.

6. The river paid me no more visits, for men had built walls to keep its waters within bounds. Wires were stretched overhead, and cars, no longer drawn by horses as in days gone by, moved rapidly along on iron rails. Seats were placed at the foot of my trunk, which now grew thick and strong, and many wayfarers 〔3〕 stayed to rest awhile in the cool shade cast by my leaves.

WAYFARERS STAYED TO REST AWHILE.

7. Huge ships made their stately 〔4〕 way up the broad river, carrying men and goods from lands far over the sea; and guns from great grey war-ships at times boomed forth a salute to 〔5〕 some noble stranger from other climes.

8. Now and then birds come to search for figs among my branches, and they tell me of spreading parks near by, where some of my sisters still grow; and at night a stray flying-fox comes and talks of the wild scrubs on the mountain side.

9. I no longer pine 〔6〕 for my friends of the forest. I am happy in watching the children playing on the seats below me, but I wonder how much longer I am to be spared, for every day the streets grow more crowded, and I fear that soon the old fig-tree will have to be cut down to make more room for those who pass by.

注释

〔1〕 great Queen: Queen Victoria—died 1901.

〔2〕 arched: Covered so as to form a drain.

〔3〕 wayfarers: Passers-by.

〔4〕 stately: Noble-looking.

〔5〕 boomed a salute to: Fired their guns in welcome.

〔6〕 pine: Long for.