Tonias's Wish from the Forest

Tonias, a young man who lives near a dense forest, has never been into the forest. One day his mother's favorite shawl which was drying in the sun was carried away by a strong wind and disappeared into the forest. With courage, Tonias entered the forest for the first time. Walking far away, Tonias got lost. Suddenly he heard the sound of crying. Tonias pushed through the bushes at the source of the sound. He was a forest elf, his name was Ollan, who had been stuck in the bushes all day. Actually, he doesn't like humans entering the forest. Ollan used to live in another forest but was driven out because humans cut down many trees. However, seeing Tonias' sincerity in saving him, Ollan believes that Tonias is a good human being, not like the others. In return for the favor, Ollan helps Tonias find a shawl. While walking around looking together until they found him, Tonias got to know the contents of the forest more closely. Ollan was happy to have a friend he could talk to and asked Tonias to come back. Tonias said yes. A few days later Tonias appeared. Tonias realized that he had not kept his promise, but his mother was sick. Ollan gave medicine from leaves from a large, orange-trunked tree that Tonias had never seen anywhere. Sure enough, the mother's condition slowly improved as Tonias treated her with leaves from the forest. Tonias did not immediately return to the forest to thank Ollan. It was several days before Tonias entered the forest with a sad face. Tonias said that the cot where his mother usually slept was suddenly broken, he didn't have the money to buy a new one. "Alyussi, the name of this tree has many benefits. Apart from the leaves being healing, the sturdy stems can be used to make beds and whatever. "Take a tree," explained Ollan. "But promise me, don't tell the secret of this tree to anyone. I'm afraid other humans want to take away much of this forest. I just believe that you can protect the forest." Tonias also brought home a tree which he could turn into a beautiful couch. Tonias returned to the forest the next day. He said that his mother's cupboard was eaten by termites, so she couldn't store clothes, including scarves. Tonias asked permission to cut down a tree to make a cupboard. This time Ollan provided conditions for planting new tree seeds to replace each tree he took. Tonias agreed. The next day, Tonias asked for two trees to be used as a dining table and chairs so that he and his mother would no longer eat breakfast on the floor. Instead he planted two new tree seedlings. One day Tonias' uncles from town visited the house. They admired the dining table, chairs, couches and cupboards, which were original orange, not painted and that had never been seen in the city. Mother said that orange wood came from a nearby forest. His uncles imagined that money would flow in from furniture sales. Tonias forbade them from taking trees from the forest. He quickly said that he was the only one allowed to cut it down, his uncles forced Tonias to do it. In return, Tonias will be sent to school in the city and his mother will make a decent living from a portion of the sales. Because he didn't want a difficult life, Tonias agreed. Secretly, without the knowledge of the forest elves, Tonias cut down a large number of trees. Tonias forgot his promise to plant a new tree for every tree he cut down. Every time he cuts down, he doesn't remember how many trees he cuts down. Overwhelmed by cutting down trees and taking them out of the forest, Tonias asked his uncles for help. Ollan learned of the arrival of other humans in the forest who were cutting down trees at will and finally became angry with Tonias. The young man instead underestimated Ollan and felt that the forest still had lots of trees. His uncles took over the logging activities while Tonias went to school in the city. From those trees, his uncles became very rich. Two years passed, Tonias received news that her mother's house had been flooded. Tonias returns to his hometown. The mother who survived said that the flood occurred because the forest was deforested. There are no trees to bind groundwater, so rainwater comes into floods. The forest where Tonias and Ollan play is no longer the forest it used to be. There is no longer shade from thick green trees, there are no longer animals roaming around, there is no longer any fruit to enjoy, it is barren. Tonias called out to Ollan but the forest elf did not respond. He realized his stupidity. The forest fairy asked him to help protect the forest, but instead he wanted too much from the forest which made him greedy and let his uncles continue logging uncontrolled. The forest fairy must have looked for another forest that she could guard. Tonias returned to live near the forest and became a forest guard while hoping that the forest fairy would come to visit. Every day he plants new tree seeds. Tonias promised to preserve the forest and not allow the cruel hands of humans to destroy the forest.