or she is fine-looking and finc-acting, straight and strong, 
and beautiful and kind, and brave and generous, — I 
ask, “Who is he? Where does she come from? What 
have they done?” 
Of course, a fine apple is not so interesting as a fine 
man or woman, or as a fine boy or girl. Still there is 
much of interest to learn even about an apple. 
None of you seems anxious to tell the apple’s story, 
so I shall have to start you with some questions. 
Do you remember playing in this same orchard last 
spring? 
Yes, you have not forgotten those Saturdays in May. 
The trees were all pink and white with apple blossoms. 
The air was sweet with fragrance, and full of the voices 
of birds, and of bees that were bustling about from 
flower to flower. No, indeed! you have not forgotten 
those happy mornings. What is more, you never will. 
They are among the things that will stay by you, and 
be a rest and help to you all your lives. I wish there 
were no child living that might not carry with him 
always the memory of May days in an apple orchard. 
How has it come about, do you suppose, that these 
trees which in May were covered with flowers are now 
heavy with apples? 
Can any of you children answer this riddle? How 
have these great apples managed to take the place of 
the delicate apple blossoms? 3 
There are some children who keep their eyes open, 
and really see what is going on about them, instead of 
acting as if they were quite blind; and perhaps some 
such child will say, ‘‘Oh, yes! I know how it happened. 
