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you。〃
That evening Margery was waiting eagerly for him； when her father
finished his supper。 Together they went to the garden； and father examined
the seedlings carefully。 Then he pulled up a little radish plant and a tiny
beet。
〃These little leaves；〃 he said； 〃are not the real leaves of the plant； they
are only little food…supply leaves； little pockets to hold food for the plant
to live on till it gets strong enough to push up into the air。 As soon as the
real leaves come out and begin to draw food from the air； these little
substitutes wither up and fall off。 These two lie folded up in the little seed
from the beginning； and are full of plant food。 They don't have to be very
special in shape； you see； because they don't stay on the plant after it is
grown up。〃
〃Then every plant looks like this at first？〃 said Margery。
〃No； dear； not every one； plants are divided into two kinds： those
which have two food leaves； like these plants； and those which have only
one； these are called dicotyledonous； and the ones which have but one
food leaf are monocotyledonous。 Many of the dicotyledons look alike。〃
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〃I think that is interesting；〃 said Margery。 〃I always supposed the
plants were different from the minute they began to grow。〃
〃Indeed； no；〃 said father。 〃Even some of the trees look like this when
they first come through； you would not think a birch tree could look like a
vegetable or a flower； would you？ But it does； at first； it looks so much
like these things that in the great nurseries； where trees are raised for
forests and parks； the workmen have to be very carefully trained； or else
they would pull up the trees when they are weeding。 They have to be
taught the difference between a birch tree and a weed。〃
〃How funny！〃 said Margery dimpling。
〃Yes； it sounds funny；〃 said father； 〃but you see； the birch tree is
dicotyledonous； and so are many weeds； and the dicotyledons look much
alike at first。〃
〃I am glad to know that； father；〃 said Margery； soberly。 〃I believe
maybe I shall learn a good deal from living in the country； don't you think
so？〃
Margery's father took her in his arms。 〃I hope so； dear；〃 he said； 〃the
country is a good place for little girls。〃
And that was all that happened； that day。
THE TALKATIVE TORTOISE＇1＇
＇1＇ Very freely adapted from one of the Fables of Bidpai。
Once upon a time； a Tortoise lived in a pond with two Ducks； who
were her very good friends。 She enjoyed the company of the Ducks；
because she could talk with them to her heart's content； the Tortoise liked
to talk。 She always had something to say； and she liked to hear herself say
it。
After many years of this pleasant living； the pond became very low；
in a dry season； and finally it dried up。 The two Ducks saw that they could
no longer live there； so they decided to fly to another region； where there
was more water。 They went to the Tortoise to bid her good…by。
〃Oh； don't leave me behind！〃 begged the Tortoise。 〃Take me with you；
I must die if I am left here。〃
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〃But you cannot fly！〃 said the Ducks。 〃How can we take you with us？〃
〃Take me with you！ take me with you！〃 said the Tortoise。
The Ducks felt so sorry for her that at last they thought of a way to
take her。 〃We have thought of a way which will be possible；〃 they said； 〃if
only you can manage to keep still long enough。 We will each take hold of
one end of a stout stick； and do you take the middle in your mouth； then
we will fly up in the air with you and carry you with us。 But remember not
to talk！ If you open your mouth； you are lost。〃
The Tortoise said she would not say a word； she would not so much as
move her mouth； and she was very grateful。 So the Ducks brought a strong
little stick and took hold of the ends； while the Tortoise bit firmly on the
middle。 Then the two Ducks rose slowly in the air and flew away with
their burden。
When they were above the treetops； the Tortoise wanted to say； 〃How
high we are！〃 But she remembered； and kept still。 When they passed the
church steeple she wanted to say； 〃What is that which shines？〃 But she
remembered； and held her peace。 Then they came over the village square；
and the people looked up and saw them。 〃Look at the Ducks carrying a
Tortoise！〃 they shouted； and every one ran to look。 The Tortoise wanted to
say； 〃What business is it of yours？〃 But she didn't。 Then she heard the
people shout； 〃Isn't it strange！ Look at it！ Look！〃
The Tortoise forgot everything except that she wanted to say； 〃Hush；
you foolish people！〃 She opened her mouth； and fell to the ground。 And
that was the end of the Tortoise。
It is a very good thing to be able to hold one's tongue！
ROBERT OF SICILY＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Longfellow's poem。
An old legend says that there was once a king named Robert of Sicily；
who was brother to the great Pope of Rome and to the Emperor of
Allemaine。 He was a very selfish king； and very proud； he cared more for
his pleasures than for the needs of his people； and his heart was so filled
with his own greatness that he had no thought for God。
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One day； this proud king was sitting in his place at church； at vesper
service； his courtiers were about him； in their bright garments； and he
himself was dressed in his royal robes。 The choir was chanting the Latin
service； and as the beautiful voices swelled louder； the king noticed one
particular verse which seemed to be repeated again and again。 He turned
to a learned clerk at his side and asked what those words meant； for he
knew no Latin。
〃They mean； ‘He hath put down the mighty from their seats； and hath
exalted them of low degree；'〃 answered the clerk。
〃It is well the words are in Latin； then；〃 said the king angrily； 〃for they
are a lie。 There is no power on earth or in heaven which can put me down
from my seat！〃 And he sneered at the beautiful singing； as he leaned back
in his place。
Presently the king fell aslee