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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。〃
〃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。
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 asleep； while the service went on。 He slept deeply and long。 When he awoke the church was dark and still； and he was all alone。 He； the king； had been left alone in the church； to awake in the dark！ He was furious with rage and surprise； and； stumbling through the dim aisles； he reached the great doors and beat at them； madly； shouting for his servants。
The old sexton heard some one shouting and pounding in the church； and thought it was some drunken vagabond who had stolen in during the service。 He came to the door with his keys and called out； 〃Who is there？〃
〃Open！ open！ It is I； the king！〃 came a hoarse； angry voice from within。
〃It is a crazy man；〃 thought the sexton； and he was frightened。 He opened the doors carefully and stood back； peering into the darkness。 Out past him rushed the figure of a man in tattered； scanty clothes； with unkempt hair and white； wild face。 The sexton did not know that he had ever seen him before； but he looked long after him； wondering at his wildness and his haste。
In his fluttering rags； without hat or cloak； not knowing what strange thing had happened to him； King Robert rushed to his palace gates； pushed aside the startled servants； and hurried； blind with rage； up the wide stair and through the great corridors； toward the room where he could hear the sound of his courtiers' voices。 Men and women servants tried to stop the ragged man； who had somehow got into the palace； but Robert did not even see them as he fled along。 Straight to the open doors of the big banquet hall he made his way； and into the midst of the grand feast there。
The great hall was filled with lights and flowers； the tables were set with everything that is delicate and rich to eat； the courtiers； in their gay clothes； were laughing and talking； and at the head of the feast； on the king's own throne； sat a king。 His face； his figure； his voice were exactly like Robert of Sicily； no human being could have told the difference； no one dreamed that he was not the king。 He was dressed in the king's royal robes； he wore the royal crown； and on his hand was the king's own ring。 Robert of Sicily； half naked； ragged； without a sign of his kingship on him； stood before the throne and stared with fury at this figure of himself。
The king on the throne looked at him。 〃Who art thou； and what dost thou here？〃 he asked。 And though his voice was just like Robert's own； it had something in it sweet and deep； like the sound of bells。
〃I am the king！〃 cried Robert of Sicily。 〃I am the king； and you are an impostor！〃
The courtiers started from their seats； and drew their swords。 They would have killed the crazy man who insulted their king； but he