It's a nice folktale to share in this season of Autumn.
The Evergreens
(Story from the Vancouver Coast Region)
Once, a long
time ago, a small bird broke his wing just as winter was coming along.
Unable to fly
to the warm south with his friends, he hopped into the forest to look for
shelter.
First he asked a
birch tree for help.
"Lovely
birch tree, " the bird said, "I've broken my wing and must find a
place to keep warm. Will you let me live in your branches until spring?"
"Heaven
no!" the birch replied, "I have enough to worry about just taking
care of my leaves for the winter. I have no time to help you."
The little bird
then hopped to a huge oak tree. "Mighty oak, "he said politely,
"will you let me live in your branches until spring?"
"No
way," the oak said. "I know your type. You'll just eat up all of my
acorns. Move along, move along!"
The poor bird
limped over to a willow tree. "Gentle willow," the bird implored,
"may I live in your branches until spring?"
"Are you
kidding?" the willow said. "Perhaps some trees take in strangers, but
I certainly don't. Go away!"
Weak and
dejected, the bird fluttered along, not knowing where to turn. "Where are
you going, little bird" a concerned voice asked.
The bird looked
up at a friendly Spruce. "I don't know,"he said miserably. "My
wing is broken, so I can't fly south, and I need a warm place to stay for the
winter."
"Come and
live in my branches," the spruce said. "I'll be happy to have company
for the winter."
The bird
gratefully fluttered into a low branch and was settling down when a nearby pine
tree called, "Welcome little bird. I'm sorry you are hurt. I'll help too,
by sheltering the spruce to keep you both out of winter's icy wind."
"Me
to," piped up a small juniper. "I can help by giving you berries to
eat all winter long."
"You're
all so kind,"the bird said. "Thank you very much."
"They'll
be sorry," whispered the oak, the willow, and the birch.
The very next
morning, Jack Frost brought his children out to play. “We want to touch all the
leaves in the forest so we can see what bare trees look like. Can we, can we,
Pop?" the Forest children jumped with excitement.
"Hold
it," said Jack Frost sternly. Old Jack had been testing the air the day
before and had seen the plight of the little bird.
"Don't
touch every leaf," he ordered. "Let the trees who were kind to the
little bird keep their leaves."
Being good
children, the Frost children listened to their dad.
That is why
today the spruce, the pine, and the juniper stay green the whole year long.