18 NATURE STUDY MADE EASY 



"Good-by," replied the other, and he lay still and waited 

 patiently. 



The first seed grew and grew, pushing its head straight up 

 through the soil, till at last it felt that it was in the open air and 

 could breathe. 



What a delicious breath it was! Rather cold, but most re- 

 freshing ! It could see nothing, for it was not a flower yet. The 

 fairies say that plants never see till their eyes come that is, till 

 they open their blossoms and are really flowers. 



So it grew and grew, and kept its head up steadily. It wanted 

 to see the sky, and leave the earth behind and beneath it. But 

 somehow or other, it could not tell why, it felt much inclined to 

 droop. 



At length it opened its eyes. It was morning, and the sky was 

 over its head. But, alas ! It was not a rose only a tiny white 

 flower. 



It felt much inclined to hang down its head and cry. It tried 

 hard to open its eyes, and to hold its head upright, and to look 

 full at the sky. 



"I will be a Star of Bethlehem, at least/' said the flower to 

 itself. 



But its heart felt very heavy, and a cold wind rushed over it, 

 and bowed it down toward the earth. 



There was no other flower in sight, and our little friend felt 

 lonely, for it saw that the time of the singing of birds had not 

 come, and snow covered the land. 



