238 NATURE^STUDY REVIEW 



"My dear!" cautioned Mrs. Maple, "pray remember your 

 manners, and don't be boastful ! If you could only see the Apple 

 family when they are ready for the Festival, v^ou would feel more 

 hum.ble. But they stay by themselves, so far down in the or- 

 chard, that we don't see half enough of them." 



"It's just as well," said the Dogwood. "They're all right in 

 their place, but they woudn't do for the front lawn, you know!" 



"Please remember," said Mrs. Maple, "that your place is really 

 in the woods, and you enjoy the advantages of this society only 

 through the kindness of our Gentleman." 



Just then the old Shagbark suddenly woke up, and cried out 

 in a jolly voice, "Here, here, what's all this clatter about! Who 

 cares for looks any way ! I like to have a good time, and have 

 the children and the squirrels pelting each other with my nuts." 

 He threw a kiss to the Dogwood with one branch, and to Mrs. 

 Maple with another, and they all laughed together, and then 

 Spring thought it was time to give them all a good cold shower- 

 bath, and after that she warmed them through and through with 

 hot sunshine, and soon they were all as busy as could be, each 

 putting out the loveliest buds you ever did see ! 



