Walks with the Children. 159 



lect the long-pointed buds of the beech, the blunt ones of 

 the elm, the sticky ones of the horse-chestnut, the beauti- 

 ful downy buds of the hickory, etc., etc. 



See the young maple-keys sprouting. Note how the 

 beechnut has opened its seed-leaves. Find some acorns 

 with their sprouts starting, etc., etc. 



Now sit down and give them ten minutes to collect ob- 

 jects. Divide the party into three or four sets, send them 

 in different ways, and tell them that they must come back 

 when you call them. 



Back they come at your call, spring's earliest trophies in 

 their hands. 



Harry has a crayfish from the brook. Anna and her 

 party bring back lichens, bark, willow catkins in every 

 stage of development. May has found a box-turtle tightly 

 shut in its mottled shell. Others bring arbutuses, cinque- 

 foils, anemones, cowslips, and buttercups. Frank has 

 a bunch of spring-beauties, and you tell them that 

 this delicate flower has a little sort of potato at its root, 

 and ask them to find one. Away they go, digging in the 

 rich dank mould. See how the eyes sparkle and the cheeks 

 glow as the fortunate ones come back with the desired ob- 

 ject. Charlie comes last with a snake he has killed and 

 some frogs' eggs in a bottle of water. 



Having enough for many days, we will place our collec- 

 tions in our boxes and go back to school. The frog's eggs 

 will be put in a jar of water and we shall see what comes of 

 them. 



Note to Teacher. When shall we take longer walks ? I 

 have often brought it about in this way : Promise the chil- 

 dren that if order is good all day you will dismiss ten min- 

 utes earlier and take a walk. It is often better to say, " We 

 will go on a hunt." There is something about the word 

 " hunt " which inspires an interest among the boys. Force 

 no one to -go, but make it so interesting to those who do go 

 that next time there will be others who will desire to ac- 

 company the " hunting party." Never prolong such a trip 



