I have written a few story’s for our children, these are ones I use to tell my children and my grandchildren, I wish to share these with you all now, they do two things, learn, and try to understand, and finally, for enjoyment
You remember me telling you about the wood? The one that’s down the lane and just, around the bend in the road? The wood is the one that’s full of wonders? Yes! In that wood is a tree, it’s been There for hundreds of years, its called an Old Oak Tree, it is very, very old, and strong; if you look at it you will see a mound of leaves right next to it; this is Ivy, and is not as old as the Old Oak Tree, and that’s what this story today is about……….
The Lonely Ivy
Long time ago the woods was very different, there were more trees, and all the plants had to fight for light, and ground to grow, the Old Oak Tree was just a strong tall tree, it was and took up a lot of the light, down by the roots was a shoot; it didn’t belong to the Old Oak Tree, it was a very young growth of ivy, over the years the two became friends,
At night when its very quiet, you could hear them talk to each other, “Old Oak Tree, what’s it like up there?” he would ask, the Old Oak Tree, would then tell Ivy all he could see. He would tell him all about the stars and the moon, how bright they were, all about the new cottage that was being built way over to the edge of the woods, how there was children and, how there were two gardens, one in the front full of flowers, there was a swing for the children. The Old Oak Tree would then tell Ivy how the children were swinging high.
In the spring poor Ivy was always really upset, as all the birds use to go and nest in the big Old Oak Tree, none would come to him, one day he looked up at the Old Oak Tree “ I am no good, I do nothing but sit here, no birds come and build their nest in me, they will not even sit in my branches like they do yours, not even a mouse will shelter under me,” as the days past the Ivy would be more sadder, and no matter what the big Old Oak Tree said to him he just sat there, not talking, not moving.
Then one day a storm came, it was the most strongest wind, even the Old Oak tree had trouble standing up to it, the lightening, was streaking across the sky, rain was pouring down so fast it was like a sheet of water coming from the sky, it lasted all night long, one steak of lightening hit the Old Oak Tree, splitting one branch off, snapping it like you would a twig, it crashed down on to the ground, not far from Ivy. Ivy was so surprised by the noise, he looked out in to the woods, and tried to see where the noise was coming from, but he could see nothing, so crunching him self-up, he slept
The morning was bright, warm, the sun shone so bright, every where looked so fresh, but poor Ivy just sat there, “ Good morning Ivy, wasn’t that a bad storm last night, look what it done to one of my branches “ Ivy did not move, just sat there “ Oh! Old Oak Tree, I am so lonely,” he then gave a big sigh, there was nothing that the Old Oak tree could do to make him happy, he even explained to him every thing he saw, that never pleased him! “Oh! I am so useless, I will never grow like you big and strong, I will never have friends like you, all the birds go to you, animals cuddle up to you, even the ants live under you,” the Old Oak Tree looked down to him, “ Why don’t you stretch out and attach your self to that branch the storm broke off me, then you will be useful, you will grow strong, not big, as I am, you will help to rot the branch and it will feed you and me, you will be come bushy and all the birds will come and hide in you, all the small animals will hide under you, you will not be lonely or useless ever again”.
That is what Ivy done, he did stretch him self, he did get strong and bushy, birds did sit in him and best of all small animals did hide under him, he was not lonely, he was not useless, he was useful, and he was happy.
Now if ever you feel lonely, useless and no one cares, think of Ivy, and you will realise that there is something that you are good at, no matter what it is, you can find it.
