14 The Elderberry Buds. 



" Some of the buds have leaves. Others have 

 both flower buds and leaves," said one of the twins. 



" Does any one know what comes after the 

 flowers ? " asked the first bud. 



. " I do," answered a robin near by. " A berry 

 grows where you see each little flower. For some 

 time these berries are green. The warm sunshine 

 helps to ripen them." 



When the berries are ripe, the bushes are very 

 beautiful with their loads of red fruit. The berries 

 of some elderberry bushes are black. 



What a feast the birds have when these berries 

 are ripe ! But the birds do not get them all ; 

 people gather many of the berries to make them 

 into sauce and pies. 



