NATURE STUDY MADE EASY 99 



from our common enemy, the fierce winds ? Up here on the moun- 

 tain they blow so wildly." 



"Dear fern/' replied the little moss, "I would gladly help 

 you, but I am so badly burned by the fierce rays of the sun. You 

 could help me, but what can a poor little moss like me do for 

 you?" 



"Oh, you can be of great service to me/' replied the fern; "in- 

 stead of growing apart from each other, let us come together. 

 You bring your velvety, moist leaves to cover my roots, and I will 

 protect you from the hot sun with my long leaves. Then neither 

 sun nor wind can destroy us." 



"Gladly," replied the little moss; "I believe we can work to- 

 gether better than alone." 



"I will come down from my high place on the mountain to seek 

 you," said the fern. 



"Then I will come up from my nook on the moorland to meet 

 you," replied the moss. 



Then the fern spread out her leaves to protect the little moss, 

 and the moss stretched her soft green mantle over the strong roots 

 of the fern. The wind blew, but the moss moistened the fern 

 root, the hot rays of the sun poured down, but the fern threw 

 her shadow over the meek little moss. 



Both were safe from wind and sun. So they worked and planned 

 together, and from that day to this, wherever ferns grow on moun- 

 tain, on woodland, or on moor, there you may find the mosses 

 nestling beneath. 



