104 
to eat ray flowers, they will tell you no, very quick¬ 
ly,” and here the Ranunculus burst out a laughing. 
Mary could not think what she meant, but as soon 
as the flower could recover herself, she said, “ when 
they do touch me they are w r ell punished, for I make 
their mouths smart so, that they scamper about as 
if they were mad,”—and then all the Ranunculuses 
joined in the laugh at the thought of the poor clumsy 
cows running about and kicking up their heels. 
Mary could not help laughing too, though she 
thought this very unkind; but the flowers went on 
to say— , 
“ The Anemones, that you admire so much, are 
not so sweet and amiable as you think they are. 
They are distant relations of mine, and I know all 
about them. They look very pretty to you, and 
have very pretty pink robes, and toss their heads 
about as if they were mighty grand, but they are 
