still have their
other toes.

JACK THE PREACHER

[Illustration: Jack the Preacher]

One morning in very early springtime the big Evergreen Trees began to
talk about the part they took in telling all the woodland flowers that
it was spring.

"Why, if we were not here," said one Evergreen Tree, "who would awake
these sleepy springtime flowers to their duty? I should like you to
tell me!"

"You speak truly, brother," said another tree. "We are ever green and
need no awakening to our duty; but for us the woods would be a
sorry-looking place in the summer. Those lazy crocuses would sleep
right on and on!"

"Yes, and the little violets never would dare show their timid little
heads," said another Evergreen Tree, "when the soft winds begin to run
through the woods. It is then we call forth to all sleeping flowers
and shrubs and bushes: 'Awake! It is time to get up!'"

"And who would tell the Bee summer was on its way?" said another Tree.
"He would never get his work started at all if it were not for us. How
lucky the flowers and all the woodland things are that we are here to
tell them when to get up!"

So the Evergreens talked and bragged about how they preached Springtime
to the woodland folk, and as they talked all the spring flowers awoke
and the insects began lazily to stretch their wings, but it was not
because of what the big Evergreen Trees were saying; no, it was because
they had heard the voice of the little woodland preacher.

And who was he, do you think? Why, no other than Jack-in-the-pulpit,
who gives a talk every spring to all the woodland dwellers on just how
to bloom and how to buzz and when to do it.

Every night for ever so long before it is time for the crocus or the
violet or any early spring flower to bloom, when it is the magic hour
the Fairies come running through the woods and touch Jack on his
nodding little head under the dry leaves and up he pops and begins to
preach.

So when the flowers and bees and things heard the big Evergreen Trees
talking they nodded to each other and laughed. "Isn't it funny to hear
them?" said a beautiful yellow crocus. "Those tall trees know nothing
about the real truth of things, do they?"

"Fancy thinking they awaken us!" said another flower. "Why, they
themselves are asleep. They get so used to winter they stand still all
the time, but who is to tell them the truth about our Preacher Jack?
The Evergreen Trees never bend or sway to one