AND HIS PLANT SCHOOL 127 



the low meadow that was once our beautiful home, and 

 which in ages past had been an inland sea. Then our 

 people talked the matter over, and it was the opinion of 

 the wisest ones that, in order to keep any moisture at all 

 in their bodies, they must have smaller leaves or drop their 

 leaves entirely. In this way there would be less surface 

 for the hot sun and scorching winds to draw it out. They 

 had to learn this, of course, from Mother Nature. And, 

 do you know, I heard the master say the other day, 'Nature 

 never lies. 7 



"As the years went by, my people's home became dryer 

 and dryer; gradually the water disappeared, and finally it 

 was a desert. Then a still greater struggle began. Leaf 

 after leaf was dropped, until all were gone and thick stems 

 alone remained. The sun grew hotter and hotter. It 

 became more and more difficult to get food from the dry 

 plain, and the thirsty and hungry animals tormented them 

 constantly. 



"Finally a great convention was called to discuss the 

 sad condition, for no one had come to rescue them or to 

 offer help of any kind. It was decided then and there 

 to grow thorns with which to protect themselves, for with- 

 out some means of defense, even after shedding their 

 leaves, they would be driven from off the earth. Mother 

 Nature, the friend of every living thing in the world, had 

 already told them that this was their only hope, now that 

 they were so hard pressed, and they believed her. 



