FLOWERS THAT HAVE ESCAPED 251 



In this same place by the trees there were many 

 Bouncing Bettys and a little way beyond, Tommy 

 called, " Here's Tansy." 



" Tansy, what a funny name," Kate Hood said, 

 and Philip began singing: 



" Tansy in a gown of green, 



Wears a crown that's golden; 



Tansy is my heart's gay queen, 



Tho' her vows she's broken." 



" You used to sing that white crows were your 

 sweethearts, and tell us the things they said to 

 you," Tommy reminded him. 



" I've changed," Philip said; it's nearly au- 

 tumn now, and I only love white crows in the 

 spring." 



" Tansy's a good plant," Tommy said later. 

 " It can cure people from sicknesses ; but I think 

 it's more a plain home body than a gay queen." 



" It's gay because it has all these hundreds of 

 little round flower heads, as hard as gold, and be- 

 cause its leaves are cut into fine little pieces that 

 make them look dressed up and pretty. It doesn't 

 look half as sober as that Rubber-plant." 



Kate Hood said: "I know something about 

 Tansy, although I've never seen It before. It 

 makes people beautiful if they wash their faces 

 with it after It has been soaked for nine days In 

 buttermilk." 



