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along comes a storm and blows one on 'em down--kills it dead,

Peter; an' a little while later, they cuts down another--Lord

knohy--an' theer was the last one, all alone an' solitary

Now, I used to watch that theer tree--an' here's the cur'us

thing, Peter--day by day I see that tree a-droopin' an' droopin',

a-witherin' an' a-pinin' for theht

say--till one day I co an' tall as ever--but dead! Ay, Peter, dead it were,

an' never put forth another leaf, an' never will, Peter--never

An', if you was to ax me, I should say as it died because its

'eart were broke, Peter Yes, trees is very like row the more you'll see it"

I listened, It was thus we talked, or rather, the Ancient talked

and I listened, until we reached Sissinghurst At the door of

the s very hard at a button on my

coat

"Well, Ancient?"

"What about that theer--poor, old, rusty--stapil?"

"Why, it is still above the door, Ancient; you "