"No; the elm has what I should call double notches."
"Exactly; one is serrate or saw-toothed, the other double serrate."
"And here is a leaf that is scalloped."
"You will find many forms if you take notice, and each has a name."
"I shall be looking at leaves after this," said one.
"You must try to find out all you can about them. Notice the arrangement upon the stem. Some are opposite, like the maple, others like the rose are alternate; now here is a pansy—excuse me for picking to pieces this pretty bouquet which you gave me, but it is in the interest of Science. The pansy or violet has alternate leaves with stipules, while the sweet pea has a compound leaf; but I know you are anxious to get to flowers, and we will take them up next time, only we ought to talk a little about the uses of leaves. You may find as many uses as you can before we come here for another talk."
"Didn't you like it?" asked one of the Brownes as they stopped on the way home to enjoy the top rail of the fence.
"It wasn't so bad as I thought it would be," replied Charlie. "I never should have suspected that there was so much talk to be made over a leaf."
"Nor I," echoed all the others.