Веснянки

           Theyoungmanenteredthesemightyforests,partsofwhichlayuntouchedsincethedawnofthemorningoftime.Theclear,cool,pungentatmospherewasintoxicating.Theintensesilence,likethatofagreatemptycathedral,fascinatedhim.Hegraduallylearnedthat,totheshywoodcreaturesthatdartedacrosshispathorpeepedinquiringlyfromleafyambush,hewasbrother.Hefoundhimselfapproaching,withafeelingofreverence,thosemajestictreesthathadstoodthroughagesofsun,wind,andsnow.Soonitbecamedifficulttofellthem.Whenhehadfilledhisorderandreturnedhome,hewasamazedtolearnthatintheswampsandforestshehadlosthisheartanditwascalling—forevercallinghim.

           Whenheinheritedhisfather’sproperty,hepromptlydisposedofit,and,withhismother,foundedahomeinasplendidresidenceintheoutskirtsofGrandRapids.Withthreepartners,heorganizedalumbercompany.Hisworkwastopurchase,fell,andshipthetimbertothemills.Marshallmanagedthemillingprocessandpassedthelumbertothefactory.Fromthelumber,Bartholmadebeautifulandusefulfurniture,whichUptegrovescatteredallovertheworldfromabigwholesalehouse.Ofthethousandswhosawtheirfacesreflectedonthepolishedsurfacesofthatfurnitureandfoundcomfortinitsuse,fewthereweretowhomitsuggestedmightyforestsandtracklessswamps,andtheman,bigofsoulandbody,whocuthiswaythroughthem,andwiththeeyeofexperiencedoomedtheproudtreesthatwerenowenteringthehomesofcivilizationforservice.