Mother of the Trees (Concluded)

After the wide road was built, the king had another idea. Having gone to all this expense to build this road into the forest, why let it lead only to the palace? Everyone in the kingdom should be able to enjoy the forest, felt he. And so he built a huge bazaar by the road.

Little by little, the forest began to change. The prince was very unhappy, as were all the children, and many of the grown ups. This was no longer the magical place they had stumbled onto. You could hardly hear the chirping of the birds over the raucous yells of the bazaar merchants. You could no longer smell the flowers.

Dejected, the prince walked into the heart of the forest where things were yet somewhat unchanged. Here was a very big and very old mango tree (yes, the same one you are thinking of!). It had always been a favorite of the prince's. It gave the most shade. It promised the sweetest fruit. Even in his low spirits, the tree would be able to cheer him up somewhat.

He sank onto the grass under the tree. 'What have I done', he muttered to himself. 'If I had but known what this would lead to, I would never have shown this place to anyone.'

'Don't worry', said a voice from somewhere near. 'It is not your fault.'
The prince started and sprang up. 'Who is it?' he asked. 'Show yourself!' He could have sworn there had been no one there, but suddenly the bushes moved, and there stood before him a tiny, wizened old lady. She smiled at him.

'Who are you?' he asked. 'I've never seen you here before.'

'They call me the Mother of the Trees', she said. 'What my name is, I could hardly tell you', she smiled. 'I forgot it myself so long ago.'

'Why did you ask me not to worry?' asked the Prince. 'What do you know about me and my worries?'

'I know', said the old lady, 'that you love this forest. And all this change upsets you. But when you get to my age, you will know that change is natural and will always happen. Mostly you have to accept it.'

'But my father! And his constant tree cutting! Is that natural? The animals and birds are losing their homes. They have no more fruit to eat. The air is no longer clean. Is this good?'

'A wise man once said that this earth has enough for every man's need, but not for every man's greed. Don't worry about your father.' She smiled and left as quietly as she had come.

The prince walked back slowly to the palace.

There he found the whole place in an uproar. 'The forest has vanished!', yelled the King and his courtiers. 'It is right here!' said the Prince in some surprise! 'What's wrong?'

'It's gone!' said the king. 'Vanished! The forest is bewitched! Let us leave at once, before some further harm befalls us!' And the king and all his courtiers took to their heels and ran!

In some confusion, the Prince turned to a small page boy who was still standing in the now nearly empty palace. 'Is it just me or is the forest still right where it always was?'
'It is, sir', whispered the boy. 'I see it too. But perhaps it is a good thing after all that they can't.'

Well, perhaps it was! But one thing was for sure. From that day to this the forest has remained hidden. It shows itself from time to time. But only to whose it counts a friend.

THE END.


With much admiration for Saalumarada Thimakka and the Narnia stories.