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and she almost fell into the brook as she tried to 
gather some of them to carry home. 
“ Do not be afraid, pretty flower,” she said, “ I 
will not hurt you ; but I wish to take you home and 
plant you in my brook, where I can see you all the 
time.” 
“ Is it as pleasant a brook as this ?” said a trem¬ 
bling Cardinal that Mary was already pulling from 
its watery bed. “ Is there a pine wood close by, 
full of birds and squirrels ?” 
“ There is no pine wood by my brook,” said 
Mary, “ but a great many elms and willows, and 
plenty of butterflies and squirrels, and little fishes 
that play all day long ; and the sun shines there and 
every where.” 
“ Then I will go with you,” said the flower, “ but 
pull my root up gently, for my stalk is very brittle 
and will easily break if you are not careful.” 
