12 STORIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 



" Oh ! I know one what already," she cried, 

 clapping her hands after a little habit of her 

 own, because very often when she was glad she 

 had no one to tell it to ; "I know what absent- 

 minded means, now. It is not to see what is 

 straight under your nose, because your thinker 

 is somewhere else ! Dear Mr. Tree Man, please, 

 please, tell me your real name and what the 

 Magic Spectacles are made of, and how long 

 I may wear them. I thought that magic things 

 were not really-trulies." 



"The House People have a habit of calling 

 many things that they cannot understand with 

 their every-day eyes, magical or untrue, but I 

 cannot tell you how the Magic Spectacles are 

 made until you have worn them. While you 

 have them on you will understand the speech of 

 beasts and birds, while they will not fear you; 

 and you shall wear these spectacles until Christ- 

 mas eve. 



" Remember ! the pass-word in this new world 

 is BROTHERHOOD ! " 



A breeze blew Tommy-Anne's hair about her 

 face, and as she shook it back and tucked the 

 curly ends under the ribbon, everything appeared 

 to be more distinct, and she heard a babel of soft 

 voices. 



