! he did not know how soon his pride was to have a fall. For
the gardener came that way and stopped before him. "Drat these weeds!"
said he. "How came this here?'" Then, whipping out his knife, he
stooped down, rooted up the poor dandelion, and threw it among a heap
of weeds which were waiting to be wheeled away!

The one who had chosen the roadside bank fared no better, for scarcely
had she opened her yellow flowers for everyone to see when a donkey
came along. "Here's a juicy mouthful!" said he, and he stopped and ate
her up--flowers, leaves, and all!

The flower-pot on the window-sill which the third dandelion-child had
made her home was taken inside one day, just when her flowers were
ready to open.

[Illustration:]

"I must throw away this nasty weed," said a voice, "before I plant my
seeds." Then some little round, black, ugly seeds were laid down
carefully, while the dandelion was rooted up and flung away into a
back yard down below.

This is a sad story, you see, but it is perfectly true.

The others who had skipped about the meadows grew among long grass
now, which nearly choked them, and completely hid them from the sun.
And when June came and the hay was cut, they too were cut and crushed
before they had had any flowers at all.

But away in a corner, by a hedge--hidden from all eyes and sheltered
from cold winds--the dandelion-child who had not wanted to go into the
world grew stronger and more beautiful every day. She knew nothing
about fine gardens or admiring eyes--and she cared nothing. All she
knew was that the sun looked down on her with all his brightness, and
that the great blue sky into which she was always gazing was wide
enough and fair enough for her.

E.D.

Conceit Bowled Out!

[Illustration:]

He was a clever cricketer,
And very proud of that;
Conceitedly one afternoon
He took his cricket bat.
But when he at the wicket saw
His sister with her curls,
He turned his nose up so, and said:
"I never play with girls!

"They're molly-coddles all," he cried;
"They always spoil a match;
They cannot field or bowl a bit--
They cannot even catch!
However, just this once I'll play!"
O, pride had such a fall:
You should have heard them shout--a girl
Had bowled him out first ball!

C.B.

Laugh at It!

When you hear the merry rain
Patter at the window-pane,
Think 'twill soon be fine