ADVENTURES OF A KERNEL OF CORN 35 



comforting influence of the warm, moist bed in which 

 they had been placed. 



Under such conditions, time passes very rapidly, 

 so while it seemed only a short time that they had 

 been asleep, yet several days had elapsed, the mois- 

 ture had penetrated the endosperm of the kernel, and 

 had brought to life the embryo, so that the plumule, 

 or young stalk, had pushed its head up through the 

 warm soil out into the beautiful sunlight of a glori- 

 ous May morning. The primary and secondary 

 roots were pushing outward and downward all the 

 while, gathering moisture and plant food to nourish 

 the young stalk, that was now taking his first look at 

 a beautiful world. He turned his head, and there 

 at his side, just emerging from under a small particle 

 of soil, were his two brothers. 



"HeUo, boys! Can you believe it? It seems only 

 yesterday we were in that old, dark seed house, and 

 now we are out here in God's sunlight, a place just 

 made for boys. Oh, look, see! What's that coming 

 on the run? Isn't he pretty? See him get that bug. 

 HeUo, Stranger, who are you?" 



"Me? Oh, I am Bob White the quail. I am after 

 some bugs. This is a great place for bugs, and many 

 other things, which you will find, are of no use 

 in the life of a stalk of com. You boys just out, are 



