236 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW 



only bird that ever presumed to build a nest in an Elm tree, 

 and he chose the tip end of a branch, where his round nest huag, 

 safe and out of reach of marauding cats. 



"Just look at that young foreign girl, the European White 

 Birch," ran on Mrs. Maple. *'vShe grows so fast, and her long, 

 slender branches wave about so gracefully, it's a perfect joy to 

 watch her! In no time at all, her delicate little leaves will be 

 dancing gaily, and she never throws a shadow over any one's 

 spirits nor keeps the fresh breezes off, but just shields our Young 

 Lady's room from the afternoon sun and from people passing in 

 the street." 



"Yes," agreed the Elm, who was an old bachelor and rather 

 jealous of his young brother who stood opposite the dainty for- 

 eigner like a dancing partner, "she's a mighty good-looking girl, 

 and she often nods to me across the lawn. She's quite an addi- 

 tion to our social circle." 



"Miss Dogwood is a stunning girl, too! Don't you think so?" 

 said Mrs. Maple. 



"Yes," again agreed the Elm, but this time rather reluctantly. 

 "You know she was only a little wild gipsy that our Gentleman 

 foimd in the woods one day, and he brought her home and set 

 her among us. It only shows the influence of good environmsnt 

 and cultivated surroundings." 



"With plenty of light and air and good nourishing soil to feed 

 on," added generous Mrs. Maple. "She certainly is a dazzling 

 beauty, when she puts on her full dress of solid white, touched 

 up with those little dabs of red just at the edges of her petals 

 in time for the Spring Festival. I hear lots of people going by, 

 praising her enthusiastically!" 



"For my part," said the Elm, "I think I perfer that Redbud 

 girl. I know she's not as yotmg as some, but her coloring is very re- 

 fined, and her beauty has only increased with age, as she has grown 

 larger and fuller, and then she is some use in the world. She 

 provides the bees with a lot of honey." 



"Oh, well!" replied Mrs. Maple, bridling at the mention of 

 refined coloring, for she knew that she and her daughters always 

 put on bright yellow and red in the fall, "If you're going to talk 

 about usefulness, look at the Pears and the Apples ! They not 

 only provide honey for the bees, but fruit in abundance for all 

 the Family, and plenty besides to sell ! To be sure, they are a 



