ii4 LUTHER BURBANK 



This berry has been named the Patagonia, after its 

 original home in South America. Its long and excellent 

 training has developed it into one of the best strawberry 

 pupils ever graduated from the plant school. 



CHAPTER XXVI 

 THE FLOWERING CURRANT 



"I am bitter; please take me and make me sweet/' 

 pleaded a small voice almost choked with dust, as Bur- 

 bank drove by one lovely autumn day. 



The little currant held out its small blue berries covered 

 with dense bloom, as if to show him what it had tried to 

 do for itself. 



His eye ever alert, his ear ever at the heart of Nature, 

 and his sympathies never failing, he heard the call of this 

 little country child. He saw its helpless condition and 

 understood its longing for different surroundings. 



Springing out of his buggy, he came close up to it, say- 

 ing: "Ah, ha! so you would like to go to school and have 

 me teach you with these other wildings I have here, would 

 you ? Come along, then, and we'll see what we can do for 

 you; but, remember, you must be obedient and willing to 

 help others as well as to help yourself if you wish to be 

 made sweet." 



He tenderly lifted her up, and little Hopeful soon found 



