Mother Earth’s Children

The Frolics of the Fruits and Vegetables

Mother Earth's
Children

The Frolics of the
Fruits and Vegetables

BY
Elizabeth Gordon
Author of
Flower Children, Bird Children,
etc.
With illustrations by
M.T. Ross

Published by
P.F.Volland & Co.
Chicago

This little book is a thank-offering to the thousands of little friends who have so loyally given me their best in the way of encouragement and appreciation, and is most especially inscribed to Gladys Doris.

FOREWORD

seed, little friends, is really a plant or a tree all wrapped up in a little brown bundle. If you plant it in the ground it will grow, and when it is old enough it will bear fruit, because God has made it so.

¶ Among all the children of Mother Nature, the fruits and vegetables are probably the most useful to us. Wherever we may go some of these little people are there before us, ready to help us by giving us food and to make life easy and joyous for us.

¶ In your Mother’s garden you will always find many familiar friends; in the fields the graceful Grain children will nod and beckon to you; in the orchard the Fruit children will peep out at you from their leafy homes; along the roadside the gay little Berries will give you a friendly greeting, and in the forest you will find the little wild Grapes climbing trees and playing hide and seek with the Bird children.

¶ The publishers, who have already given you the Flower Children, Bird Children, and Animal Children, wish to join the author and the artist in their grateful acknowledgment of the wonderful appreciation which these books have received, and to hope that these new comrades will prove as fascinating as those whom you already know.

¶ For myself, little friends, I thank you from my heart.

Elizabeth Gordon.

MOTHER EARTH'S CHILDREN

LITTLE Miss Radish, pretty thing,

Has her birthday in the spring;

She and the little Onions play

Out in the garden all the day.

WHEN Orchard Oriole sings his song

The Rhubarb children troop along;

They’re hardy, healthy youngsters, too,

And stay the whole, long summer through.

SAID Lettuce, tender-hearted lass:

“Come Dandelion, ’neath my glass;”

But Dandelion smiled and said

She liked the nice fresh air instead.

SAID Spanish Onion: “I don’t see

Why people weep at sight of me;

I’m a nice, friendly sort of chappie

And like to make everybody happy.”

THE Button Mushrooms went to play

With the small Puff Balls one bright day;

They had such heaps of glorious fun,

But all ran home at set of sun.

ASPARAGUS in early spring

Came up to hear the robins sing;

When she peeped out her dress was white;

It turned green in the sunshine bright.

THE Green Pea children went to sail

On the Sauce Pan ocean in a gale;

“This boat’s a shell,” they cried; “Dear me!

We might capsize in this deep sea.”

SAID Spinach: “In my dress of green

I’m just as happy as a queen.

I’m truly glad that I am good

For little babies’ early food.”

LITTLE Wild Strawberry came down

To visit with her folks in town;

She’s a sweet child with charming ways

And blushes modestly at praise.

SAID Endive: “I was born in France

But travel when I get a chance.”

Said Celery: “I travel, too,

But my real home’s in Kalamazoo.”

THE Carrot ladies love to go

To church on Sundays in a row;

And, tall or short, each lady fair

Wears a green feather in her hair,

PEARL Onion, tiny little thing,

Lives out doors from early spring;

She’s German, so I understand,

And dearly loves her father-land.

THE dainty little Water Cresses,

In their pretty bathing dresses,

Like water fairies splash and play

In the cool brooklet all the day.

“CHERRIES are ripe,” said Old Blue Jay

As he flew by one August day;

“Why, he means us,” the Cherries cried,

“Perhaps we’d better go inside.”

WHEN Gooseberry wears a gown of green

She cries and pouts and makes a scene;

But when her gown’s a purplish hue

She never disagrees with you.

THE String Beans love to climb a pole,

And so their clothes are seldom whole.

Mother Bean said: “I’ll mend the tatters;

While they are happy, nothing matters!”

SAID Dame Potato: “Hurry, Pat!

And wash your face and feed the cat,

Then run to school, or you’ll be late;

Just see! It’s nearly half past eight!”

“GOOD morning, friends! Know who I am?

I’m Raspberry who makes the jam;

You know—that on the pantry shelf—

I make that every year myself.”

WHITE Turnip said: “I’m pale, I know

And all our family are so.”

“I should advise,” said old White Beet,

“A course of sugar cakes to eat.”

RED Pepper said a biting word

Which Miss Green Pepper overheard;

Said she: “Hot words you can’t recall;

Better not say such things at all.”

SAID Miss Cucumber: “I have brought

My fan, because the day is hot;

Our family have a splendid rule,—

Whatever happens, we keep cool.”

MISS Parsley raised her plumy head,

And in her modest manner said:

“I’m only asked to dine, I know,

Because my dress becomes me so!”

GUMBO’S a splendid southern cook,

And, without looking in the book,

He’ll make a savory soup or stew,

And send it, steaming hot, to you.

THE Blueberry children love to run

Around the hillsides in the sun;

Smiling and jolly, plump and sweet,

Best-natured youngsters one could meet.

“EVERY one knows,” said Madame Beet

“My disposition’s very sweet;

And though to plumpness I am prone,

My color’s every bit my own.”

“MY new spring dress,” said Chicory,

“Is just as lacy as can be;

Shading from green to purest white

Its ruffles are my heart’s delight!”

FIG is the queerest chap; you know

The way that fellow starts to grow?

Just a small bud upon the bough,

No flower at all—that’s clever now!

THE pretty little ladies Rice

You’ll always turn to look at twice;

They came from India long ago,

And now they’re everywhere you go.

THE Currant ladies look so sweet

In their green dresses, cool and neat.

They offer you, for your delight,

Their strings of berries, red and white.

SAID Brussels Sprout: “I am so glad

That I’m such a good-looking lad.”

Horseradish said: “I’m glad I’m plain

If good looks make a chap so vain.”

SAID Rutabaga Turnip: “Wow!

I just escaped that hungry cow;

I jumped behind a great big tree

Or she’d have surely eaten me!”

THE Blackberry children love to run

And play beneath the August sun

Until each little maid and man

Takes on a friendly coat of tan.

CARRAGEEN makes his bow to you.

He’s a sea child, that is true,

But he’s so jolly—never cross—

His other name is Irish Moss.

“THE person they named after me,”

Said Oyster Plant, “lives in the sea;

I’m very sure I could not sleep

‘Rocked in the cradle of the deep.’”

YOUNG California Artichoke

Mother Earth'sChildren

FOREWORD

MOTHER EARTH'S CHILDREN

Mother Earth's
Children