“When you are older, if you study the ways of plants, you will find them quite as interesting as those of animals.  They have to get their living; and some, like the dodder, prefer to get it at the expense of another; and others resort to all kinds of plans to keep themselves and their kinds alive.

“The acid of the pretty wood-sorrel is a poison, so nothing will eat it; and the buttercups growing in meadows are untouched by cattle, because of the poison in their leaves and stems.

“I might tell you of many other plants that live in safety because they are defended by poison, or thorns, or prickles, or some peculiar shape.  The leaves of the common holly are only prickly on the lower branches, where it needs protection from browsing cattle.

“Then there are wonderful contrivances for keeping not only the single plant but its kind alive, which you will learn one day.

“There are plants which bear seeds in very great numbers, like the field-poppy, so that some of them are sure to survive.  The winds carry other seeds to great distances, because they have beautiful feathery down attached to them, which causes them to be easily blown about—­such as thistle and dandelion seeds.

“Birds, too, are great seed-sowers:  they eat the wild fruits which contain the seed.  These fruits are generally red or black, so as to attract birds to them.  Among the red ones are hips, the fruit of the wild rose; and haws, which contain the seed of the white-thorn.  Among the black are blackberries, the fruit of the bramble; and sloes, which are like a very small hard plum.  The birds eat these, and drop the seed which is inside of the fruit on to the ground.”

Then Sarah came into the room to say that Jane had come from Woodside to take the children back.

“We must wait for Jack,” said Mary.

“Yes,” said Aunt Lizzie.  “I daresay the boys will be home directly.  Why, here they are.—­How hot you look, Jack!”

“It is so warm to night, aunt, and we have walked fast.  We’ve had a splendid time of it at Charley Foster’s, and we stayed till the last minute, so we hurried home at last.”  Where-upon Jack drew out his pocket-handkerchief to wipe his hot face, forgetting all about the little frogs.  The loose knot slipped, and you may guess what happened.  The frogs, delighted to get out of Jack’s warm pocket, were soon hopping about the room.

“What have you there, Jack? what does this mean?” asked Aunt Lizzie.  But she could not help laughing, for she knew what odd things boys will do.

Jack explained to her how he had caught the young frogs to put into the Woodside pond, that he might watch them there.

“Well, you must catch them again,” said his aunt, “and I will give you a paper bag to carry them in, only you need not suppose that there are no frogs in grandpapa’s pond.  Charley’s pond is large and shaded, while the Woodside pond is small and open; and the weather has been very dry lately, so the frogs have kept in the soft mud at the bottom.  You will see plenty of young frogs after the next shower of rain hopping about the edges of that pond.”