‘And the yellow cup takes care of the yellow threads.’

‘And the yellow threads take care of the green cases.’

‘And the green cases take care of the seeds.’

[Illustration]

DAISIES AND BUTTERCUPS.

[Illustration:  Daisies.]

mead’-ows stalk cov’-ered yel’-low maid’-en light’-ly ten’-der tread win’-ter cun’-ning dai’-sy straight ground chil’-dren moss’-y but’-ter

I.

    1.  I’m a pretty little thing,
        Always coming with the spring;
        In the meadows green I’m found,
        Peeping just above the ground. 
        And my stalk is covered flat
        With a white and yellow hat.

    2.  Little maiden, when you pass
        Lightly o’er the tender grass,
        Step aside and do not tread
        On my meek and lowly head;
        For I always seem to say,
        ‘Chilly winter’s gone away.’

II.

    1.  I’m a cunning little thing,
        Coming also with the spring. 
        Near the daisy I am found,
        Standing straight above the ground;
        And my head is covered flat
        With a glossy, yellow hat.

    2.  Little children, when you pass
        Through the tall and waving grass,
        Do not pluck, but gently tread
        Near my low and mossy bed;
        For I always seem to say,
        ‘Milk and butter fresh to-day.’

WHEAT.

PART 1.

field fa’-ther wheat plough bas’-ket watched threw har’-row grains east morn’-ing earth joints be-lieve’ for’-est stalks

1.  There was a very little field at the bottom of the garden, and father made up his mind to grow wheat in it.

2.  A friend kindly lent him a horse and plough, and the soil was quickly turned over.  A few days afterwards the seed was sown.

3.  The children helped to do this.

They got up very early one morning and went out with their father.  Harry had a bag full of wheat, and Dora had a little basket.

[Illustration]

4.  They watched what their father did, then dipped their hands into the wheat, and threw it out over the earth.

5.  After that, the horse came again with a harrow, to cover the seed over with soil, and it was left to grow.

6.  It seemed strange to think that those little hard grains would grow up to be tall plants and have other grains upon them.

7.  ‘I hope we shall have some nice soft rain,’ said father, as they left the field.

8.  Many days went by, rain came again and again.  There was sunshine, too; but sometimes the east winds blew.

9.  Dora and Harry went out every morning to look at the field.  But they always came in saying that there was nothing but brown earth to be seen.