A Race

220 IMPROVEMENT ERA solid throughout therr trunks, ;m<l consequently are unable to stand against hard winds. In order to help many of our famous trees from further ravages of wood-eating bacteria, all the rotten wood has been carefully removed from the heart of the trees just as de- cayed parts are cleaned by dentists from hollow teeth. The insid of the tree is then thoroughly painted with tar, after which the cavity is filled with cement. This filling prevents further decay and greatly prolongs the life of the tree. You recall that the teacher asked Thad to keep his answer a secret, until all had seen the tree upon the school grounds. He knows more about trees now, and he is going to keep his "secret" a long time yet. He has since concluded that a big tree is not alive all the way through, and that in this respect it is not like his own

body.

A Race I race with the wind on a silvery sea, Aloft on her billowy crest; Wild laughter springs from the heart of me, And I shout at my soul's behest.

Ah, what care I for the breakers there. See, the white caps lead! Away! I'm off with the wind for a rollicking race Through the mist and the hoary spray.

The waves they lash my bounding steed To a maddening, reckless pace, And I sing "Yo ho," as I take the lead, And away in a headlong chase.

And over the billows we race and run Till the breath of thewind is spent, Till she moans, "You won, you won, you won!" And the heart of the wind is rent. Louis W. Larsen