Many of the dicotyledons look alike."
"I think that is interesting," said
Margery. "I always supposed the plants were
different from the minute they began to
grow."
"Indeed, no," said father. "Even some
of the trees look like this when they first
come through; you would not think a
birch tree could look like a vegetable or a
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.
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