26 STORIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 



hand. The Oak's voice was pleasant, but it 

 spoke with authority, not humbly like the grass. 

 For an Oak, no matter how small, never forgets 

 its dignity, never whispers like a Birch, or titters 

 and flutters like an Aspen. 



" What have you in your hand ? " it continued. 

 "An acorn, with a crack in it, and a 

 sprout growing up with leaves on it, 

 and a sprout growing down with little 

 hairs on it," she replied ; for she had 

 been taught by her father to see and 

 answer accurately ; " but please don't 

 ask me whys and because*, for I don't 

 know anything, no, not one thing." 

 "People who ask so many whys 

 and whats must answer sometimes to 

 show that they understand ; and if you 

 understand me you will know how all 

 trees grow/' said the Oak, proudly. 

 " I was a little speck of oak life, 

 shut up in an acorn like the one you have in 

 your hand. In it I fell to the ground last 

 season, before the leaves. About me in the 

 acorn was packed nice sweet food, to nourish 

 me in growing until my roots could feed me from 

 the earth. 



"A while ago the Voice called, and at the 



