CHAPTER II 



EARLY FLOWERS AND THE VISIT OF FRANCIS 



When I lived in the city, I never knew that 

 great, gray looking trees were ever covered with 

 tiny flowers, yet in the country in April this is 

 plain for any one to see. All the little twigs have 

 now a lively look ; but by far the prettiest blossoms 

 are hanging from the Red Maples. No one could 

 ever count them, there are so many; and they 

 are far too high for me to reach. Still I can see 

 that they are something like tiny, crimson bells 

 with very many yellow clappers. From a distance 

 they make the trees look as though pink clouds 

 were paying them a visit. Tommy says he always 

 keeps half an eye toward the sky when hunting 

 for flowers, and I feel sure this is how he learns 

 so much about tree blossoms. 



There is no longer any need to push aside dried 

 leaves when hunting for Hepaticas. They stand 

 up boldly for any one to see. I think that per- 

 haps they were lonely in the woods, for just a 

 few days ago some other little flowers came be- 

 side them. Tommy was at school and Grand- 

 mother was busy when I found them first, so if 

 any one helped me it was Tommy's dog, Peter, 

 although his master still thinks he was just turning 

 out some snake hole. 



