276 THE STORY-BOOK OF SCIENCE 



shut their eyes so as not to see danger, and think 

 themselves safe because they wilfully ignore 

 peril. There are others who inform themselves 

 about what may be a menace to them, persuaded that 

 one warned person may be worth two unwarned. 

 You belong to this latter class, and 

 I congratulate you. Countless ills 

 lie in wait for us; let us try to 

 diminish their number by our vigi- 

 lance, instead of giving ourselves 

 up to lazy carelessness. Now that 

 a frightful misfortune has over- 

 taken one of our families, who 

 does not realize the extreme im- 

 portance of our all knowing, so as 

 to avoid them, these terrible plants that claim vic- 

 tims every year? If this knowledge were more ex- 

 tended, the poor little fellow whose loss we now 

 lament would still be his mother 's consolation. All ! 

 unfortunate child !" 



Uncle Paul, whom thunder never caused even to 

 knit his brows, had tears in his eyes and his voice 

 trembled. The good Simon, who had seen the two 

 children in each other's arms under the hedge, felt 

 more moved than the others at this recollection. He 

 pulled down the broad rim of his hat to hide the big 

 tears that were rolling down his rough cheeks 

 bronzed by the sun. After a few moments of silence 

 Uncle Paul continued : 



"The death of the unfortunate little boy was 

 caused by belladonna. It is a rather large weed 

 with reddish bell-shaped flowers. The berries are 



