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Story of last leaf draws more kind words from readers

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By Dale Huffman, Contributing Writer 8:15 PM Sunday, October 25, 2009

A little leaf.

Brown, fragile, crumpled and now at the end of its summer of glory.

As fate, and the gusty autumn winds would have it, once again in 2009, the last leaf on the 35 foot tall Sycamore tree on my front lawn has fallen to the ground leaving behind barren branches with one small empty birdhouse. And memories.

The annual reference to the last leaf has always triggered considerable reaction from readers who in turn share personal stories about how a tree has been significant to them. I can’t explain it, but perhaps there is an imagery involved that kind of tugs at the heart and soul. The story of life and death.

Readers have dispatched poems, quotations, cartoons and anecdotes about trees that they clipped out of publications and saved.

Over the last 35 years, I have accumulated enough “tree material” to write a book.

If you are tuning in to this for the first time, let me share some background on how it got started.

When we moved into our place my late mother, Kathryn Huffman, picked the tree to plant. It was a little crooked sapling. I hammered a piece of wood in the ground and tied the tree to the stake with pieces of cloth strips from my mother’s worn out pink bathrobe, hoping it would grow straight.

It worked.

The years quickly dissolved one into another, and the tree grew taller than the house, and the branches shaded our front windows and held up a number of bird houses over the years.

My mother loved the tree, and the year I lost her, in 1997, my neighbor Kenette Happensack knocked on my door one afternoon in October and pointed out that the leaves had fallen, and only one remained.

We watched faithfully, and when the last leaf fell I picked it up and pressed it in our family Bible. “That is Kay’s leaf,” Kenette said.

One year Patricia Farrell, a tree lover in Beavercreek sent me a thoughtful gift. Unknown to me, she and her daughter Mary had driven to my home on four occasions, in spring, autumn, fall, and the snows of winter. They took photos of the tree and had the montage framed for me. Someday I would like to meet them and thank them in person.

Ruth Bidwell of Kettering sent along a story after last year’s column. “I have read about the tree and the leaf every year for ever so long and decided that now is the time to share my story,” she wrote.

“In 1979 we purchased a tree to be planted in our front lawn on January 4th which was our 31st wedding anniversary” she said. “Then, unexpectedly the tree just died.”

She said that soon her husband Ken got sick with lung cancer and was in Kettering Hospital. While he was in the hospital she had another tree planted so it would be there when he returned home.

Ruth said, “Ken was in an out of the hospital, and loved the new tree. Then in November of 1979 Ken passed away. And lo and behold, near the same time, the second tree died.”

She felt compelled to order another tree, and called and had a Small Leaf Linden tree planted to replace the two that died.

“This tree has grown into the most beautiful tree and is a daily remembrance of Ken to me, and to my family. We feel it stands for the man that he was and the love that he gave to all of us.”

I wish we had space to carry more of the wonderful stories.

Sincere thanks go to you and to readers like Barbara Kimmel of Vandalia, who wrote, “I enjoy the touching stories about trees each year. I was raised on a small dairy farm that was located back a long lane in a clearing of many trees. Your tree column is a gift to me each time I read it, a blessing that reminds me of younger days.”

Christmas tree for UD

The students at the University of Dayton, who plan a community Christmas party each year to brighten the lives of about a thousand children in need are searching for a beautiful Christmas tree.

Our newspaper readers have provided a tree for the Christmas on Campus celebration for the last four decades and the students hope you come through again this season.

They are looking for a tree in the spruce family, about 30 feet tall, and fairly full.

Once a tree is selected a tree service will cut it down and deliver it to campus for the 46th annual party on Dec. 8.

If you have a tree that you want the students to consider, please give them a call at (937) 229-3483. Thanks for considering.

Dale Huffman would like to share your story. This column is for you. Send e-mail to dhuffman@DaytonDailyNews.com or write to Dale at 1611 S. Main St. Dayton, OH 45409. Fax: (937) 225-2489. Phone: (937) 225-2272.

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Come on, man! Don't dis people and their Christmas trees! It's a timeless tradition that brings a lot joy. Yeah, sure, you could get a fake tree; if you have $200 bucks. I've got two kids to buy presents for. Actually, I really don't have enough for that. Therefore, cutting a tree down from the back of my property is something that means more to my kids. Something they'll always remember.

M
8:18 PM, 11/13/2009

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There is a famous short story by O. Henry titled "The Last Leaf" in which a young woman, ill with pneumonia, tells her sister she'll hang on as long as the leaves on the ivy outside her window remain there. Following a storm, only one leaf remains. The patient begins to recover. Turns out the leaf was painted on the wall by her neighbor, an old artist who braved the storm to paint his "masterpiece," caught pneumonia and died.

Barry Dwyer
11:33 AM, 10/26/2009

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Dale:
I love your stories. I love a living tree more living that stands proud and strong. When we cut them down and string lights, they will no longer be tall and proud - and alive. Seems wrong, somehow, to talk about live trees that have so much meaning and memory; and then to ask for one to be cut down. I wish there was another way. Not downing UD, but maybe the solution is for UD to finally plant a real tree on campus, so that can be THE TREE for years to come, and it will be alive!!

UD alumnus
10:01 AM, 10/26/2009

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I almost cut down a dawn redwood tree in front yard 10 years ago when we moved into the house. The tree was short and had no defined top because it was overshadowed by a dying maple tree. Our neighbor Mary told us to keep it. She said it was planted by the old Siebenthaler. So we kept it. Shortly after the advice, Mary passed away. I call the tree Mary's tree. I knew her only 3 months but I appreciate her advice. The tree is tall now and is beautiful. The tree reminds me of Mary every day.

MM
1:02 AM, 10/26/2009

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DALE, THANK YOU.

Gary
9:51 PM, 10/25/2009

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