THE FLOWER lytARKET , , 1Q1 



is the hungriest, so Heart of Nature has told the 

 messengers to fetch and carry, that all may be 

 doubly sure." 



'* Who are the messengers, and how do they 

 work?" 



" They are many, and as varied as the flowers 

 they serve, bees, butterflies, moths, and then 

 always the wind, and for some things the Water 

 Brother, though he is greater as a seed-sower. 



" Heart of Nature sends one of these winged 

 transports to the flower whose heart it can best 

 reach, saying, ' Feed from the honey ; take your 

 fill of the golden store.' As he eats, the life-dust 

 clings to his tongue or hairy legs or feelers, and 

 he bears it with him to be left on the next flower 

 he visits. So two are fed at once, the insect mes- 

 senger and the seed. And each blossom has its 

 sign by which its rightful messenger knows it, 

 colour or perfume, and not one of them 

 would so far forget himself as to mix the message 

 of buttercups and clover." 



"But," persisted Tommy- Anne, "why didn't 

 the first Heart arrange the Plan so as to have the 

 life-dust always tip over into the baskets, with- 

 out messengers ? " 



" Because," answered a voice that she knew be- 

 longed to her Tree Man, even though she could 



