SEEDLINGS AND SHOOTS 73 



our disappointment by avoiding the little seed- 

 lings. 



What, then, is our surprise sometime later, 

 when we chance to pass their way, to find that 

 the seedlings in no wise regarded the event as a 

 discouragement! Both little plantlets have 

 forced the two tiny buds in the axils of their 

 leaves into little forked shoots, and are growing 

 lustily. Already each small "limb" has two 

 leaves ! Such courage and fortitude ! We are 

 ashamed of our own dejection. 



As the days pass, it becomes very evident that 

 there is a race on in our ambitious little seed- 

 lings. Each small fork is trying to outdo its 

 partner. How eagerly they reach out for the 

 sunshine ! How they stretch and grow ! When 

 the time comes to prepare for winter, each lit- 

 tle tree has one fork that is a trifle longer than 

 its rival. WiU they always grow this way? If 

 so, the trees will both be forked close to the 

 ground. Again, we are disappointed! We al- 

 ready pictured two arrowy-straight maples, full 

 of queenly beauty and grace, delightful for their 

 coolness of shadow and their symmetry of out- 

 line! 



Spring comes. Once more the race is on, but 

 in one little seedling the contest is unequal. 



