56 FOREST FANCIES 



*^The robin will,'' answered the elm. 



**And the bee," echoed the linden. 



*^Let us get ready for Easter," said the Nor- 

 way maple, *^and the robin will tell which one 

 has done the best. Of course, we cannot com- 

 pete with the orchard trees; they have their 

 fashions, and we have ours." 



'^However," said the elm thoughtfully, *^it 

 is the one beautiful, sweet fashion of flow- 

 ers." 



'* Flowers, flowers, flowers I" echoed every 

 tree. **What shall I wear — flowers with sta- 

 mens, flowers with pistils, or flowers with sta- 

 mens and pistils both?" 



For stamens carry the pollen-powder atop, 

 while pistils bear seed at their base, and some- 

 times one tree will wear only gold powder, the 

 other pendants of seed. 



Down by the stream the willows were bud- 

 ding. 



**I intend to wear my furs on Easter," de- 

 clared the pussy willow. * ' Easters are so often 

 cold, and I have such pretty gray furs." 



So he started spring fashions with bursting 



