THE DANDELION CHILDREN

[Illustration:]


"What little darlings we are!" said the children one day.

They were all sitting fluffed up into one little downy ball on the top
of a long stem.

"It is very nearly time for us to go into the world," said they. "O,
how wide and how sunny it is, and what fun it will be! Our wings are
all ready to fly, and we are so light and happy! Then the whole world
will be ours, and we can choose our own place in which to take root
and grow.

"I will grow in a lovely garden," said one.

"I mean to be seen, wherever I am," another declared.

"Well, there's plenty of time before us to choose," remarked a third.

But the mother dandelion shook her leaves and said: "Children, don't
boast. Others don't always think as much of us as we do of ourselves!"

"O, but they must," said the little ones; "we are darlings!"

"Very well," said the wind. "Now you may go--puff!" And away flew some
of the seeds, just as they do when you blow the dandelion "clocks."