AND HIS PLANT SCHOOL 131 



Who can say but that this first love of the plant was the 

 beginning of the great work with Opuntias he was to do 

 in the world the child love for that little cactus plant. 



The great work of training the cactus child began in 

 earnest when the master brought Opuntia from Mexico. 

 First the cactus thorns must be gotten rid of, for no other 

 advancement would fit Opuntia for usefulness as long as 

 he wore them. So the master gave the cactus child to 

 understand that he would look much better and become 

 more useful and lovable if he would drop those ugly thorns 

 and put on a civilized suit of clothes, and, furthermore, that 

 he would save himself the great effort which he had to 

 make to produce those thorns. He taught Opuntia that 

 obedience would bring him into a beautiful life, and prom- 

 ised all the help and care needed. He assured the plant 

 child that nothing should harm him, and that good, nourish- 

 ing food would be his in abundance. Plants, as well as 

 human beings, know when we are kind to them, and little 

 Opuntia felt all this kind-hearted attention of the teacher. 



Soon many of Opuntia' s relations were brought in to aid 

 in the great plan of improvement for the cactus child. 

 Opuntia was greatly pleased, but when they tried to be- 

 come acquainted, he was somewhat confused, for there was 

 talking in so many languages. Some had come from Africa, 

 some from Hawaii, others from Japan, Australia, and the 

 South Sea Islands, while there were those from France, 

 Sicily, Italy, and from many parts of the United States. 



