14 STORIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 



and language of its own, which you will learn 

 in time. I am one of these rulers, though not 

 the greatest, and my name is Heart of Nature." 

 Then the great Oak stood alone, and through 

 all the treetops there ran a mysterious whisper: 

 " Heart o' Nature ! Heart o' Nature ! " 



" We are in great luck, aren't we, Waddles ? " 

 said Tommy-Anne, after a long silence. " I 

 do not think I understand exactly what the Tree 

 Man means about the Three Hearts, but I sup- 

 pose he will tell me before next Christmas. Oh, 

 Waddles dear ! when we can ask as many ques- 

 tions as we please and have them answered, don't 

 you think it will be very hard to have to go 

 into the house at night?" 



"The Tree Man did not say that you must 

 not ask questions in the house." 



" No ; I don't remember that he did ; but I 

 hardly think it would be polite in us to trouble 

 the beasts and things to come so far from home ; 

 and suppose Aunt Prue was to see them ! Of 

 course we can talk to the mice, and there are 

 sometimes nice big ants in the sugar-jar, but 

 we had better save those for rainy days." 



"I do not mind staying out all night, if it's 

 moonlight, but I do hope you will not forget 



