14 THE VISIT OF FRANCIS 



"The flower is pretty," said Francis. 



" This flower has a particular insect that visits 

 it," argued Tommy. 



" This flower was the first to welcome the Pil- 

 grims to this country," argued Francis. 



" This flower — " said both together. 



It was fortunate then that Grandmother came 

 back to the room, since Tommy and Francis were 

 growing red in the face. 



" My boys," she said, "each flower is beautiful. 

 Francis, you may not know that once in New York 

 State the Arbutus grew in many places, even close 

 to the largest cities. It snuggled up against 

 wooded banks, and spread thick patches of glossy 

 green leaves, and pink-faced blossoms in sandy 

 spots where the sun shone brightly. It was so 

 sweet, and so much more charming than its com- 

 panions that people from far and near picked it 

 in great quantities. Many took it also and tied it 

 in bunches to be sold on the streets. 



" Even the people who thought they loved it 

 paid little heed to its welfare. They picked it most 

 carelessly, tearing it up from the ground by its 

 slender, running rootlets. The Arbutus blossom, 

 as you know, has but a short stem of its own, and 

 to pick it with care is slow work. But even so, 

 the plant has been a long time growing, and when 

 its young shoots are torn off more than a year's 

 labor is destroyed. 



"So it was that the patches about here became 



