80 FOREST FANCIES 



garden. ' ' But while his wild plants were over- 

 running the family garden, and the wild bees 

 that he brought home were besieging the do- 

 mestic hives, his mother was busily planning 

 the future of her ^* Little Botany Boy." She 

 chose him for the church. There is a story 

 told* of how one day his mother found him 

 Avith the loved family Bible, and her heart 

 bounded with joy that her long-cherished 

 dream might come true ; but no, he was press- 

 ing some new-found flowers therein. 



^^ ^Dear child,' she said, *you must not put 

 herbs and flowers in my beautiful book. It 

 would be quite a sin to spoil the Holy Bible.' 



** 'Pray forgive me. Mother ! But these are 

 the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen, so 

 I thought I would preserve them best of all, 

 for I have heard both you and Father say that 

 the Bible is the Book of Life; and surely, if 

 I put the flowers between its leaves, they will 

 retain their color, the Bible keeping them alive 

 forever.' 



**The Floral King,'' by Albert Alberg. 



