28 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [13:1— Jan., 1917 



ready to come out when the days are warm." Children! 

 shall we come out again another day and see the leaves when they 

 come out? 



Look at the branches of this tree. Let us all show by our arms 

 how these branches grow up — pointing to the sky. Listen to my 

 story that tells why the branches of the Poplar always point 

 upward. 



Once an old man took the bag of gold from the end of the 

 rainbow and came into the deep woods. All the trees were as 

 asleep and he quietly stepped from tree to tree, so as not to make a 

 bit of noise. He saw no one, and as he thought he heard a sound 

 of a footstep, he pushed the bag of gold far out of sight among the 

 thick branches of the poplar tree. Then he hurried out of the wood 

 as rapidly as he could. 



The next day, the tree awoke and heard a cry ring through the 

 wood. It was Iris, the goddess of rainbow. "The bag of gold 

 at the foot of the rainbow has been stolen, ' ' she said. ' ' Who knows 

 anything about it?" The trees all shook their heads for they 

 would not be so mean as to steal the bag of gold from beautiful 

 Iris. 



Away flew Iris to tell Father Jupiter who was very angry. 



1 * We will find the gold, my daughter, ' ' said he. ' ' Who knows the 

 hiding place of the bag of gold?" he thundered. 



"Not I," said the maple and all the trees at the same time. 



"Lift up your branches to show you speak the truth," said 

 Jupiter. 



What do you suppose happened? (Opportunity given for 

 children to tell) . No one was more surprised than the Poplar tree, 

 who trembled and shook from head to foot. Soon the Poplar tree 

 spoke and said very solemnly. 



"Never again shall my branches shelter stolen goods for others. 

 My branches shall forever point to heaven to show truthfulness. 

 This happened a long time ago, but the branches always point 

 upward as you have seen them to-day. 



The class all take one parting look at the sleeping soldier tree. 

 Promise to find other Lombardy Poplar in the neighborhood and 

 plan to visit this tree again to see its leaves and flowers. 



