ch would
be spoiled if it were washed by the rain.

And now you will see why the cup-shaped flowers so often droop their
heads,--think of the snowdrop, the lily-of-the-valley, and a host of
others. How pretty they look with their bells hanging so modestly from
the slender stalk! They are bending down to protect the honey within
their cups.

We are gradually learning that everything which a plant does has its
meaning, if we can only find it out. And when we are aware of this, a
flower garden may become a new world to us if we open our eyes to all
that is going on in it. And so we learn that even among insects and
flowers, those who do most for others receive most in return. The bee
and the flower do not reason about the matter; they only live their
little lives as nature guides them, helping and improving each other.

I have been able to tell you but very little about the hidden work that
is going on around us, and you must not for a moment imagine that we
have fully explored the fairy land of nature. But at least we have
passed through the gates, and have learned that there is a world of
wonder which we may visit if we will. And it lies quite close to us,
hidden in every dewdrop and gust of wind, in every brook and valley, in
every little plant and animal.

FOOTNOTE:

[Footnote 11: From "The Fairy Land of Nature," by Arabella B. Buckley.]

EXPRESSION: Make a list of all the natural objects that are
mentioned in this selection. Read what is said of each. Describe as
many of them as you can in your own words. Tell what you have
observed about bees and flowers. The daisy that is referred to is
the true European daisy. The daisy, or whiteweed, of the United
States does not open and close in the manner here described.

SONG OF THE RIVER[12]

A river went singing a-down to the sea,
A-singing--low--singing--
And the dim rippling river said softly to me,
"I'm bringing, a-bringing--
While floating along--
A beautiful song
To the shores that are white where the waves are so weary,
To the beach that is burdened with wrecks that are dreary.

"A song sweet and calm
As the peacefullest psalm;
And the shore that was sad
Will be grateful and glad,
And the weariest wave from its dreariest dream
Will wake to the sound of the song of the stream;