Excerpt: ... Jarge beant theer to elp ye." "Yet the work remains, Ancient." "Why then, if you m goin, Ill go wi ye, Peter." So we presently set out together. All about us, as we walked, were mute evidences of the fury of last nights storm: trees had been uprooted, and great branches torn from others as if by the hands of angry giants; and the brook was a raging torrent. Down here, in the Hollow, the destruction had been less, but in the woods, above, the giants had worked their will, and many an empty gap showed where, erstwhile, had stood a tall and stately tree. "Trees be very like men," said the Ancient, nodding to one that lay prone beside the path, "ere to-day an gone to-morrer, Peter-gone to-morrer. The man in the Bible, im as was cured of is blindness by our blessed Lord, e said as men was like trees walkin, but, to my mind, Peter, trees is much more like men a-standin still. Ye see, Peter, trees be such companionable things; its very seldom as you see a tree growin all by itself, an when you do, if you look at it you cant elp but notice ow lonely it do look. Ay, its very leaves seem to ave a down-earted sort o drop. I knowed three on em once-elm-trees they was growin all close together, so close that their branches used to touch each other when the wind blew, jest as if they was a-shakin ands wi one another, Peter. You could see as they was uncommon fond of each other, wi half an eye. Well; one day, along comes a storm and blows one on em down-kills it dead, Peter; an a little while later, they cuts down another-Lord knows why-an theer was the last one, all alone an solitary. Now, I used to watch that theer tree-an heres the curus thing, Peter-day by day I see that tree a-droopin an droopin, a-witherin an a-pinin for them other two-brothers you might say-till one day I come by, an theer it were, Peter, a-standin up so big an tall as ever-but dead Ay, Peter, dead it were, an never put...