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Show Fainj Talo jSf -TAHy-GRAHAMi-BONNBR THE LITTLE WEED "My relatives have spoken of this before." the little weed said to the pretty plant. "Yes," said the pretty plant, 1 remember. re-member. For, you know, I have been around for several sev-eral years. I'm a sturdy plant, a strong plant In other words. "Or rather, I should have Bald, I think, In 'other word,' For I only ! used one word 'strong' Instead of 'sturdy.' They both mean Just about the same. "Xes, I remember remem-ber your relatives "I Peeped Up Above." have spoken of this before. "The nice earth which Is around you told me so," the little weed said. "I was wondering ubout how I would be treated. Very carefully I peeped my little green self above the earth to see If any one rushed at me with a shovel and an angry look. "I had a feeling they might. Of course a shovel would hardly have been needed for me. I'm so small and I'm not very strong or powerful as some of the members of my family are. "But I was greeted with delight and the earth told me that my relatives hud spoken of the Joy it was to be a little weed In a pot In the winter time. "The earth encouruged me to come up. "'Peep up nbove,' snld the earth. 'The plant won't object to you. "'You won't be rude and try to take up all the room so that the plant can't grow. Some of the members of your family do that in the gardens, along the countryside. "'But you're a delicate little weed, a dainty little weed, and you won't do anything of that sort. , , " 'So peep up above the earth, little weed.' "1 peeped up above, then," the little weed continued, "and I found myself here In this nice fern pot with you, pretty green plant : "I heard the members or the family fam-ily showing me off to each other a rare honor for a weed. "I heard them gay: "'Oh, look at the cunning little weed I' "That was another rare honor to be called a 'cunning little weed' In such an affectionate tone of voice. "I saw that all around were books and pictures and all such things, but everything was Indoors and there were no gurden paths or (lower beds-only beds-only a few plants. "And then the earth whispered to my roots and said : "'It is winter time, you know, and plants are about, trying to bring as much of the out-of-doors into the bouse as is possible. " "You're another little green, growing grow-ing thing, and they welcome you. " 'So have they welcomed little relatives rela-tives of yours who've come up in the winter time Just as you have, and your relatives have spoken too of their Joy about It. , " 'Of course you behave so differently differ-ently In the winter In a pot like this than you do when you run wild in gardens In the summer time or when you try to run wild I "'You don't run wild here and your good manners are greatly appreciated. "So here I am, plant, and I'll not get In your way. I'll be so well-mannered, well-mannered, such a nice little weed. "I'll see what Is going on but I won't try to push my ways about everywhere. "I'll try not to take up much room. I'll be satisfied sat-isfied vlth my own Utile place here. "I'll appreciate this greeting which I have received, re-ceived, and I'll never try to get the best of you." Oh,. Look at the Cunning Little Weed." "I know thut Is true," said the pretty pret-ty green plant as It looked down upon the little weed. And the little weed smiled In Its soft, pretty, dainty, tiny little fashion and Its small green leaves opened Just a trifle wider as It smiled. |