365 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



A WELL CARED FOR TREE IN FLUSHING. 

 European weeping beech. 



"To thee, my Master, I offer my 

 prayer. 



"Give me some food and water, some 

 air for my roots and some light for my 

 crown. Protect me from my numerous 

 enemies and do not crowd me into one 

 small space with so many of my com- 

 rades. My needs are like yours and 

 I would not trouble you for all this, 

 had I lived in my native home in the 

 forest. But here I am in a foreign 

 land, placed under artificial conditions 

 to serve you, my Master. I am happy 

 to serve you, to protect you from heat 

 and cold, from disease and foul air, 

 and to even help you financially by 

 making your surroundings more at- 

 tractive to live in. I, too, am willing to 

 do all this like the wealthier members 

 of my family who are fortunate enough 

 to live under better conditions in the 

 country or the suburbs. But I cannot 

 do this unless you help me, and I beg 

 you, O Master, do help me to enable 

 me to help you. Amen." 



A Mistakelet. 



BY W. H. WISMAN, NEW PARIS, OHIO. 



They had studied the suffixes day after day, 

 And practiced them through and through; 



They had written examples by dozens and 

 scores, 

 Until I was sure they knew. 



They had said them all over again and again, 

 And knew them without the book; 



They had written for streamlet, "a little 

 stream," 

 And for brooklet, "a little brook." 



And then lambkin they learned was a little 

 lamb, 



And hillock a little hill, 

 And eyelet they knew as a little eye, 



And pellet a little pill. 



One day not long after I gave them a test 



To find out if yet they knew, 

 And asked them to write for diminutives 



Examples not less than two. 



But when in the evening I looked o'er their 

 work, 



My cup of dismay was full; 

 For there was "pumpkin, a little pump," 



And "bullet, a little bull." 



