What Is Happening to the Wild I-'loi 



:ers 



145 



and still others on the 

 dry hillsides. They know 

 where to go for each 

 kind, and not a spot es- 

 capes their sharp search. 



Here they find a patch 

 of violets, and all are 

 quickly picked. There 

 are some baby-blue-eyes, 

 and yonder dry field is 

 brilliant with the colors 

 of many others. In the 

 gathering of the flowers 

 some of them are pulled 

 up by the roots, but the 

 children do not think of 

 the harm this does. They 

 wander on and on until 

 many have more in their 

 hands than they can 

 carry. Some of those 

 picked first are already wilted, and, to make their burdens 

 lighter, the children throw these away. At last a tired but 

 happy band turns toward home. 



What will be done with all the flowers that have been 

 picked? In each home the vases are filled and the tables 

 decorated. There is no room for all of them and some are 

 thrown out. These flowers, once so fresh and bright as 

 they nodded in the breeze, now lie crushed and wilted on 

 the ground. 



Another spring returns and the children are out again 



//. W . [-airhanki 

 The wild oxalis loves the moist, shady places. 



