TOMMY AND HIS FATHER AFIELD 167 



like Lilies-of-the- Valley, although they grew on a 

 large spreading bush instead of a little two-leaved 

 plant. Besides, the leaves of the Dogbane grew 

 just opposite to each other on the stem, and had 

 no little dents, or curves around their edges. It 

 was really only the flowers that reminded Tommy 

 of Llly-of-the- Valley. 



They were the same shape, but a faint rose 

 color, and five deep, pink lines ran through them. 

 What pleased Tommy best of all was their very 

 sweet scent. He even thought It sweeter than the 

 Honeysuckle on our veranda. 



Tommy's father asked him: "Why do you 

 suppose these little flowers have these pink veins? 

 Is it just to make them pretty, like stripes In a 

 lady's gown? " 



Tommy didn't answer right away, for his 

 father often said to him: "Think twice before 

 you speak once." 



While Tommy was taking the second think, he 

 remembered Blue Flag, and all that Professor 

 Bonn had told us about its purple vein being the 

 bee's royal road to a feast. So he answered: 



" Perhaps It's to show Master Bee the way to 

 find something good to eat." 



" Not Master Bee this time, but Sir Butterfly," 

 his father told him. " He's guided by those pink 

 lines to run his long, slim tongue down to the 

 very center of the nectar feast. But the fly 

 (whose tongue Is short) as well as other little In- 



