The Little House of Burrs

Now let us build a little woodsy house of burrs ([Fig. 124]) and put it in a little garden. Gather two heaping handfuls of large-sized burdock-burrs, small ones are not strong enough, and begin building. These burrs grow on a bush; they are about the size of a marble, are almost round, are prickly, and are pinkish at the top.

Make the roof first ([Fig. 125]). Stick ten or twelve burrs together in a row with pink heads all pointing in the same direction. Place this row on a flat, smooth surface, a board, flat stone, table, or, perhaps, the hard earth, and attach another row of burrs along the side edge of the first row. Continue to add more burrs until you have six or seven rows fastened into one flat piece.

Be sure that this piece does not bulge out or sink down in places, for the roof must be perfectly flat. Make the two side walls ([Figs. 126] and [127]) and the back wall of the house as you made the roof; the back wall must be the length of the roof and the height of the side walls ([Fig. 128]). The side walls must each fit on the ends of the roof and be high enough to look well.

The front wall of the house must have a doorway and a window ([Fig. 129]). But first make it solid, exactly like the back wall and exactly the same size, then lay it down on the flat surface that you are using for a table, and open a hole for the doorway by taking out five or six burrs, counting from the bottom up, and two or three burrs, counting from side to side. That will make about ten or twelve burrs to be removed. Take out the burrs for the window and make the opening three or four burrs high and two burrs wide. (See [Fig. 129]).

Use four burrs for each side of the hollow square chimney ([Fig. 130]), which is open at top and bottom.

Fig.124 - The little woodsey house of Burdock-burrs with ornamental trees of grass

To put the different parts of the house together lay the roof down flat and stick the edge of the back wall on top of the outer row of burrs which forms one of the long edges of the roof. Fasten one side wall on one short edge of the roof in the same way and press the edge of the back wall and the edge of the side wall together, making the corner firm and square. Next attach the second side wall, and lastly fit in the front wall.

Fig.125 - Roof of house of Burs.

Fig.130 - Chimney of house of Burs.

Fig.126 - Side wall of house of Burs.	Fig.128 - Back wall of house of Burs.
Fig.127 - Side wall of house of Burs.	Fig.129 - Front wall of house of Burs.

Now lift the house carefully, place it right side up on the ground, and adjust the chimney to the roof. As you work keep the picture of the house in front of you so that you may see at a glance whether you are building it correctly or not. If you cannot find large burrs, let the sides and the roof of the house be two layers of burrs stuck firmly together. Make a path leading up to the door of very small shells, sand, or fresh earth.