FALL PLANT STUDY. 377 



the position in which the children can most clearly see and 

 most easily represent stem, " spring," and pod, and have 

 them model them in clay, or draw or paint them. 



In Lesson 3, a careful drawing, somewhat enlarged, of 

 the seed baby and its " tail," and a second drawing of the 

 seed and its hairy sail or balloon, will help to impress the 

 main thought of the lesson, the way in which the seeds are 

 scattered. 



Review Story. The essential thoughts and lessons for 

 the children may be gathered up, and " clinched " or fixed 

 in the minds of the little folks, by appealing to their ima- 

 gination by a story somewhat like the following : 



THE MILKWEED BABIES. 

 What I Heard and Saw in the Fields. 



One quiet afternoon last fall I walked out to a field not far from 

 here, and sat down to watch all the pretty things I could see. 



A brook ran through the field, near which was a family of waving 

 and nodding ferns. You know how the ferns bend and nod, like 

 little boys and girls when they get sleepy ! 



Off on the side of the hill was another family, each bright green, 

 and tall, and slender, and straight, each gracefully bowing to the 

 others. These milkweeds were not as dainty as the ferns ; but they 

 were just as pretty, in their way. 



In a corner, not far away, was one just one buttercup, stretch- 

 ing itself up to look through the fence at the sun. Sometimes he 

 would turn his bright face toward the fleecy clouds above him ; some- 

 times he would nod toward the ferns or the milkweeds. 



I listened to the brook singing, and heard the wind whistling softly 

 in the trees over me. Suddenly there was a whisper near me. I 

 looked all about me, but could see nothing. When I moved it was 

 quiet. sat very still, and soon I heard it again. It seemed to come 

 from the ferns. In one place they were growing around in a circle, 

 and all seemed to be looking toward one who was nodding more than 

 the others ; and the sound came from this fern. Now I could hear 

 the words : 



" Yes," the voice said, " yes, I have been watching that milkweed 

 family up there all summer. They are not nearly as pretty as some 



