18 STORIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 



Looking at what seemed to be merely a stretch 

 of rather dead sod, to which the colour of spring 

 was coming very slowly, Tommy-Anne saw innu- 

 merable little spikes like green bayonets, pricking 

 through the brown mat, and as they came up, 

 they called encouragingly to each other. Here 

 and there, between .this young grass, appeared 

 the sprouts of stronger plants, some bearing a 

 pair of long, saw-edged leaves pressed together, 

 like hands, palm to palm ; others shooting out a 

 half-dozen green spokes at the top of the stem, 

 like a wheel that lacked the tire. 



Made bold by the humble manner of the grass, 

 Tommy-Anne asked, " Why are you so late in 

 coming up? The grass in the garden and past- 

 ure was green long ago, and down by the river 

 it has been bright all winter." 



"For two reasons," said the nearest Grass-blade, 

 shivering a little as it straightened its bayonet. 

 " We are all new here, fresh from the seed, and 

 we are late because the sun forgot to call us." 



" Why did 'the old grass die? It was thick and 

 strong last summer and grew all in little bunches. 

 Waddles and I used often to sit upon it. Do 

 you think that it was discouraged?" 



" No, not that ; but in this place last Moon 

 of Snow-Shoes, Kabibonokka and Shawondasee 



