THE VISIT OF FRANCIS H 



is that another little flower has come by the Wind- 

 flowers. It is like them in looks, and yet it Is a lit- 

 tle different, and Is called Rue-anemone. 



At the top of Its stem it sends out little, white 

 flowers, all very much like the one blossom of the 

 Wind-flowers. Its green leaves are round, and 

 notched in three places, and very thin and smooth. 

 It Is a cousin of Wind-flower's, so perhaps it Is 

 not strange they should look so much alike. One 

 beautiful, little company of them grows In a clump 

 of thick moss; and two Maidenhair Ferns stand 

 up over their heads. Perhaps they wish to shade 

 the flowers. 



The part of the woods where we find Rue-ane- 

 mone belongs to Tommy's father. He wishes no 

 one to pick It, because, he says, it is very easy to 

 drive it away even from places that suit It well. 

 It vanishes when It is torn up by the roots, or 

 abused, and only a great deal of coaxing will 

 bring It back again. It Is like the buffaloes that 

 Grandmother has told us about. Years ago, she 

 says, there were many of them in the great west 

 of this country. But then people lassoed them, and 

 killed them for their skins In such numbers that 

 they left the places near where white men were 

 making cities and towns; and after a while there 

 were only a few of them left anywhere. 



So it Is a pity to take Rue-anemone from Its cool, 

 shady home. Everything there helps to make It 

 beautiful, even the insects, and a bright, little lizard 



