Page 28 -

The Comfort of Nature

Beside the house grew a large Camper down elm tree. The branches stretched lazily and
gracefully in every direction; some to the sky, others closer to the earth, the leaves drooped
casually downwards and the lowest of them brushed the heads of passers-bys house was
old, but the tree had been there longer. The original builder had been careful to construct
the home close to it but at enough of a respectful distance to allow the tree room if it
continued to grow. A garden sprang up around it and soon the tree was the centerpiece of a
beautiful backyard.

The home stayed within the same family for centuries and, naturally, so did the tree. The elm
had served many purposes in its long life. It had been home to a variety of small creatures,
provided shade when one wished to read outdoors, had been used as a climbing tree, and
more. Nothing seemed capable of touching the ancient tree. Storms of all kinds swept
through the area and often did damage to the household and creaky as it was, but the elm
never failed to push through unscathed. It was as if it held a sort of reverential power that
even Mother Nature herself dared not confront.

Decades after the house had been fitted with electricity and plumbing, the tree was given
accessories. The family adorned it with fairy-lights so that it shone and sparkled with mystical
secrets on warm evenings and stayed merry on cold ones. The final touch was when a swing
was hung from one of the high branches. There was no doubt the tree would be able to hold
such a thing, it remained strong for so long swing wouldn't change that. The swing was
attached to a pair of fifteen-foot ropes and sat prettily, hovering just above the lusciously
green grass. Vines and white roses from the craft store had been wound delicately up the
first two feet of each rope so even in the winter, the swing was a spot of springtime. Just as
the family had so lovingly taken care of the house and tree, they took care of the swing. It
became part of the landscape; something to be preserved through the years so many more
generations could enjoy it.

The swing rapidly became a favourite pastime of children and visiting relatives who
marvelled at how they had managed to hang it from so high up. There were rules, of course.
The children were not to play too roughly on the swing, and it was only meant for gentle
rocking back and forth rather than soaring to great heights as they did on the local
playground. They understood well enough how serious these rules were.

Perhaps it was the subconscious worry of falling and breaking a bone that kept them from
acting against their parents ‘wishes or maybe it was the magical awe provided by the elm.
They respected the elderly tree just as much as their parents, the tree was like a silent
guardian. The whole family could feel it watching out for them and standing sentinel as it had
done for the last several generations. Outsiders tried suggesting the tree was much too

close to the house and could be a danger but no matter how many of them spoke these
thoughts aloud, the tree never wavered.