Among the trees the question chanced to rise—

“Which of us is the fairest, the most comely?”

A towering pine tree boasted in this wise:

“Behold me, all ye puny ones, behold me!

Look at my shoulders reaching to the sky!

Look at my tasseled mantle—green forever!

How can ye doubt or question?—here am I!”

A stately elm tree upward gazed a moment,

In acquiescence bent her regal head:

“Aye, thou art tall and gayly decked, my brother,