366 NATUEE STUDY. 



these ? If they get and keep the idea that buttercups are 

 fairy cups painted by the sun, or made of gold carried by 

 the sunbeams straight from the golden sun, and that the 

 flowers are here to bring happiness to boys and girls, and 

 to men and women, will they be apt to pass them by so 

 carelessly ? 



Review what has been done to make the flower ; what 

 the roots did, and how soil and water helped them ; what 

 the stems did ; what the leaves did, and how sun and air 

 helped them. 



What can the flower do in return for all that has been 

 done for it ? 



How it brightens the world ! Like the dandelion, of 

 which Lowell has written : 



" 'Tis the Spring's largess, which she scatters now 

 To rich and poor alike, with lavish hand, 

 Though most hearts never understand 

 To take it at God's value, but pass by 

 The offered wealth with unrewarded eye." 



But this is but a part of the work of the flower. To dis- 

 cover what else it does, the children, and their teacher, will 

 have to use their eyes carefully. The story is all there, if 

 we will but take the pains to read it. 



Place a fully developed wide-open flower on each desk, 

 cautioning the pupils to hold it by the stem, and not. to 

 hurt the flower. Have them observe it carefully, and tell 

 all they can about it, with as few questions as possible. 



Doubtless they will first notice and tell about the golden 

 cup or saucer, made of five or more parts, each shaped like 

 a fan (or some other object with which the children are 

 familiar), bright yellow on its upper side, duller below. 

 There is no difficulty in the buttercup in seeing why this 

 is called the little crown, or the corolla, which means the 



