sending- its thread-like roots down into the soil below. If it is a hard 

 cruel soil, as too many are, it cares nothing- for its little nursling-, and 

 will very likely let it die. But if it is a kind, good soil, it becomes 

 very fond of the little plant and does all it can to make the nursling 

 thrive. The earth all about the seedling becomes a scene of life 

 and activity. When the plant wants water, — and it is a thirsty 

 little creature, — the sand grains begin to hand the water from one 

 to another till it reaches the little roots. As the water passes by, the 

 humus grains hand out a supply of food and put it into the water. 

 The earth above the roots is all day long drinking in warmth from the 

 sun's rays and handing it down to the roots. When the winds blow and 

 try hard to tear the little plant out, the soil-grains cling hard to the roots 

 and hold them fast in their place. So, you see the soil has all to do 

 with the roots ; what it does is out of sight, and therefore, often out of 

 mind. Yet it is well to remember that the usefulness and the beauty of 

 the grass, and shrubs, and trees come in great part from the earth 

 about below their roots. 



The flowers, still faithful to the stems, 



Their fellowship renew' ; 

 The sten s are faithful to the root, 



That worketh out of view ; 

 And to the rock the root adheres 



In every fibre true. — Word^n-orth. 



The woorlen plow of the early settler. 



