FALL PLANT STUDY. 417 



"To a Pine-tree." Lowell. 

 "Growth of the Legend." Lowell. 

 "My Cathedral." Longfellow. . 

 "Forest Hymn." Bryant. 



Step IV. The Pine Tree's Cradle and Seed-babies. 



Preparation. Have children tell about the babies at 

 home, how helpless they are, how warmly and carefully 

 they are covered, how they are rocked to sleep in the 

 cradle or on mamma's lap. 



Eecall fall work on protection and scattering of seeds, 

 how the milkweed seeds were protected and scattered, how 

 the maple seeds travelled about. Would you like to see 

 how the Pine-mother takes care of her babies, and sends 

 them out into the world? 



Some one has said: 



44 Tell me thy secret true, 

 Whispering pine ; 

 Tell me a story new, 

 Whispering pine.' 7 



' We shall find that what the pine is whispering about is 

 her secret. 



Position of Cradles. Show where and how cones are 

 fastened, hanging usually near top of tree and toward ends 

 of branches. What a place for a cradle ! How it must 

 rock in the wind! How can the babies be kept warm? 

 Surely this is one cradle we think about when we sing : 



" Rock-a-by, babies, in the tree-top ; 

 When the wind blows, the cradle will rock ; 

 When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall ; 

 Down come cradle and babies and all." 



Cone Cradles. Note exquisite order of scales, every scale 

 in place, how closely the scales are pressed together, and 



