194 APRIL 



It was different from all of the others. 



Its color was a deep velvety black. 



When the Walnut tree saw this tulip, he 

 danced for joy. 



His branches bent down to greet the wonder- 

 ful stranger. 



His leaves kissed her. 



More than ever he wished that he could bear 

 tulips. 



He went to work with a will. 



He sent his roots deep into the big garden. 



He spread his branches to get all the sun- 

 light. 



And this he did bravely for over a hundred 

 years. 



The Walnut tree was beautiful to look upon. 



But it had never borne tulips. 



One day a wood carver went by. 



" This is a perfect tree," he said. 



" It is just what I need for my work." 



So the tree was cut down. 



Its wood was sawn and cut. 



But the Walnut did not care. 



For what do you think the wood carver was 

 making ? 



BEAUTIFUL BLACK TULIPS! 



