The next year out came four little baby squirrels from the squirrel house, and they went to live in the trees in the yard. And in a few years there were squirrels everywhere, running over the trees and about the yard, and people often came to see them and play with them.
Jack and Jill still live in the old home, but they certainly have a yard full of children.
THE APPLE TREE’S CHILDREN
Showing that a tree must surrender its beautiful flowers in order to produce useful fruit.
In the land of “Long Ago” lived a beautiful apple tree, or rather the tree had been beautiful, until a cruel wind and a cold rain came one night and took her children from her, and the apple tree wept and let her tears fall with the rain. And no wonder she wept, for her children were the loveliest pink and white flowers—we call them apple blossoms, but the old tree called them her children and loved them dearly.
The sweet Spring fairy saw the grief of the Apple Tree and said:
“Why do you weep, dear Tree? Is there nothing I can do to help you?” And the tree replied: “Alas, O Fairy! my children have been taken from me and nothing can comfort me but to have them back. If you can obtain this boon for me, you are indeed my friend.”
So the Spring fairy said: