Mother Nature is every bit as fond of the little folksin her human family as of the grown-ups, and while sheprepares untold joys for lovers of the outdoors among menand women and larger boys and girls, she never forgetsthe little ones.
For their benefit she keeps an open toy-shop full of marvellousplaythings, all free to any child who wants them,and instead of the children paying her for what they takeshe pays them for coming to her by giving them rosiercheeks, brighter eyes, and stronger bodies. She puts moreglee into their laughter and greater happiness into theirtrustful little hearts.
As in the large department stores in big cities, the goodsin Mother Nature's shop are changed for each season ofthe year; so the little shoppers have constant variety andhail every new season with fresh delight. This book iswritten to call attention to the beautiful and wonderfulthings to be found in Mother Nature's toy-shop and totell what to do with them, for one must know how to usethe amusing material that is furnished.
After really getting into this most enchanting of all toy-shopswith eyes open to see its wonders, we found that thedifficulty to be met was not how to write about them, buthow to stop writing. The display was so varied and soinviting, it seemed that we must tell the children abouteverything we saw, but if we had gone on seeing more andtelling more there is no saying what size this book wouldhave been.
PART I—WILD FLOWERS |