What the wild flowers tell us; nature talks with young people

Foreword

OVER and above all other influences and institutions, Home is really the place where the character of a child is molded, and the trend of its life directed. With grave anxiety, parents watch, not only the good but the evil traits, as they appear in their children, and are often sorely put to, to check the development of the latter, and to foster and encourage the former. Baby's first lisping word and first intelligent action are quickened and prompted by the parents' interest in, and sympathy with, the child's welfare. Thus is commenced a mutual sense of need and coordination, which should never be broken down.

It is with a desire to do something to aid mothers and fathers in the creation and development of such a sacred and invaluable bond, that this collection of flower-stories is published. In it, parents may find many lessons taught by the field and wayside blossoms, such as make for the strengthening of the better side of their children's characters, and for the correction and elimination of their shortcomings and undesirable tendencies.

A few quiet moments spent in reading one of these stories to a child, followed by a patient, ten-

6 FOKEWOBD

der application of its lesson to a fault, or weakness, or virtue the child has commenced to develop, may do much to expand the best and eradicate the worst, while, at the same time, serving to promote and preserve a loving and sympathetic understanding between parent and child, so beneficial and desirable in every home.

But the above is not by any means the only use to which these stories may be put. They should possess interest for Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, junior congregations, kindergarten groups, parents, public school teachers, preachers, children's camp directors, rural residents, and even farmers. Dieticians and others interested in food values will find useful information about the food properties of the wild flowers mentioned. Every flower dealt with is a food flower; and every story deals with some habit or duty in child-life. The stories might also be read with profit on hikes.

Originally the stories in this little collection were told by the author to a large group of children in a down-town church of a great city, where the chemical fumes from the innumerable surrounding factories almost prevent grass from growing. The plan which the author followed in the original presentation was to devote about fifteen minutes each Sunday to story-telling and sketching. Occasional oral or written tests were conducted which covered subjects, Scripture verses, names and uses of the flowers, and the les-

FOKEWOKD 7

sons taught. On the Sunday preceding the final test on all the stories, the children were given an oral review. Two public school teachers and the superintendent of the Sunday School prepared this final test and acted as judges. After the examination the Public Park Commissioner of the city addressed the children on the importance of cultivating flowers and trees in order to beautify the city and country. The Commissioner was so pleased with the plan of instruction involved in the stories that at the conclusion of the address he presented as awards to the children who had received the highest marks in the test, potted plants which he voluntarily offered to donate for the occasion.

The author is not outlining this plan as a model to be universally adopted, but relates it simply for what it may be worth. Modifications will readily suggest themselves. For example, it may be found undesirable to tell flower stories in a continuous series; in that event alternate months might be given to flowers, with other stories in between. Or April, May, and June of each year might be used, or perhaps the summer months, when the flowers are in bloom and can be picked. In localities where the flowers grow, children might gather them and bring them to church to use as object lessons while the stories are being told; in other places, the blackboard might be used for sketches by the minister, teacher, or pub FOBEWOBB

pa. The younger children will find interesting and profitable hand-work in colouring the plates in the book with crayolas. A special index of suggested texts is given after the final story for the use of ministers in their Junior Congregation work.

Of course, no attempt has been made to tell a story of every wild plant. It has been the purpose of the author, however, to work into helpful stories for children the characteristics of many edible wild plants. A reading of the stories will make it plain, therefore, that no one need go hungry if lost in the woods and will further deepen an interest in the food value of many wild flowers now regarded by the average person as useless. Let it be kept in mind, however, that this little volume is neither a manual of botany nor a treatise on diatetics ; it is a story-book for children.

It is earnestly hoped that children everywhere will receive much good from these stories, told not so much by the author as by the beautiful wild flowers themselves.

D. O. O.

The Corner-Stone Temple, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Contents

I. The Common Dandelion . . 1 1

Gold in Your Back- Yard

II. The Common Violet . . .17

II The Common Violet

A New Suit of Clothes

WHEREVER the violet grows, it is a favourite. It makes everybody think of springtime, June and the robin's song. Yet by botanists it is classed as a common weed.

The violet is plentiful in every part of Europe and America. Children find it in lowlands, meadows, woods, marshes, and along the roadsides and banks of streams. Most of the flowers are a deep purple, but some are light blue, and others nearly white. The leaves grow on long stems from the base, and are usually heart shaped, with round, toothed edges.

In some countries of Europe, the peasant mothers make a syrup of violets, and give it to their children. Mohammedans make a drink from the violet, which they call violet sherbet. In parts of France the crushed violet is used in home-made remedies. In America we make a dainty candy with the violet flower, by dipping it in a syrup.

Violets have been used as medicines in cases of rheumatism, weak eyes, quinsy, sore throat, scorpion's sting, and some even used to believe it cured cancer. Its present use in medicine is as a syrup for young children. Then it is also used in soaps and perfumes.

The people of Wales carry the violet to the graves of their loved ones. In parts of Italy the same thing is done, and the days set apart for decorating the graves are called " Violet Days."

When the Arabs wished to describe the eye of a beautiful woman, they likened it to a violet. The ancient Greeks had a queen goddess, and they always said that this goddess had violet-like eyelids. So Shakespeare speaks of

" Violets dim But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes."

These ancient pagans tried to make their skin look like violet, by mixing the crushed flower with milk, and bathing their faces in the mixture. But these people were pagans, and how silly that millions of Christians should follow this vain habit of the pagans, by smearing their eyelids and noses with various violet powders and pastes. This is not wearing the violet colour as it should be worn.

This much loved flower has been put to so many uses that they cannot all be told here, for what we are most interested in is the use that was made of the violet colour in garments or robes. In olden times people who held high positions wore robes of violet colour, as violet has always been the emblem of royalty. Any one receiving a new robe, really

THE COMMON VIOLET 19

received a new suit of clothes, because the robe was the principal garment worn. The ancient Athenians made crowns of violets, and considered it an honour to be called violet crowned. The beautiful voilet hats of which many girls are so fond are perhaps taken from the old time violet crown.

When children are truthful and brave, we say they are princely, meaning, of course, that they act like a noble character. It is then that boys and girls are worthy to wear a violet robe, such as was given to men whom kings wished to honour.

Usually when children are to be dressed in a new suit of clothes, the question of fit is a serious one, because some children are so fat, and some are so skinny, some are so short, and some so tall. The skinny fellow must get a suit that will make him look stout, and the short fellow must get a suit that will make him look tall, and so on. Each must have a different sort of suit. But this suit, this new suit of clothes, which the Bible speaks of as a suit, or robe of violet, is one that will fit any child. An unusual suit, isn't it?

In the days when Ahasuerus was king of the Persian Empire, there was a Jewish servant in the palace whose name was Mordecai. One day some of the other servants were planning to kill the king. Mordecai overheard them, broke up their plans, and saved the king's life. In the palace there was another servant whose name was

Haman, and he was a very proud Persian. He had a much higher position than Mordecai. Everyone bowed to Haman as he went in and out o£ the gate; but Mordecai, who was the gatekeeper, refused to bow down to him. For this refusal Haman became so angry at Mordecai that he influenced the king to give him permission to kill all the Jews in Persia. He forgot that the queen was Mordecai's cousin, and also of the Jews.

Upon hearing of Hainan's murderous plan, Mordecai began to pray, and he asked Queen Esther, and all the Jews in the land to pray with him. That night the king could not sleep, so he called for the big book in which were written all the important things done in his kingdom. While reading through it, he noticed that no reward had ever been given to Mordecai for saving his life. The next day Queen Esther told the king all about Hainan's plans to kill the Jews. This, together with some other things that Haman had done, enraged the king, and he ordered his servants to hang Haman on the very gallows that Haman had built for Mordecai.

But he called Mordecai before him, placed a ring on his finger, and gave him a robe of royal purple, then " Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of violet." Some men who write books which explain the meaning of Bible verses call it a robe of purple, but others call it a robe of violet.

THE COMMON VIOLET 21

What a beautiful new suit of clothes for Mordecai. In spite of the bitterness and power of Haman, Mordecai firmly believed God would save him and his fellow Jews. That is like the violet flower. It is so true to its colour and flavour that vinegar cannot fade or sour it. In fact, if the violet be dipped into vinegar quite often, its perfume will be preserved for a year or more. And wasn't Mordecai's trust in God something like that ? All the bitterness and ugliness of Haman could not destroy it. Mordecai was worthy to wear violet.

By his loyalty to his people, the Jews, he saved their lives. The king honoured him with the new suit of clothes, a suit such as princely people wore, and God honoured him by making him a great man, for Mordecai was raised from the position of gatekeeper to that of prime minister to the king.

Children who lead others to Sunday School and to church are saving lives, — saving them from sin and death. Such children will receive a high place of honour and influence in the land. It will be as if they wore the robes of kings and princes. It will be the noble character that will cover them, like a new suit of clothes. And this suit will fit any child. Like the violet they will be loved by everybody, because their characters of truth and loyalty represent princely and noble living. Their character will be like a beautiful robe of violet.

Marsh [M&ryold

The leaves a nutritious food- cooked or vickkdLs

Ill

THE MARSH MARIGOLD A Surprise Party

WHAT happiness a surprise party brings to boys and girls! How big we felt when we received our invitation, and were told to bring sugar, or lemons, or crackers, or perhaps peanuts. What fun on the way to the house! And when the honoured one walked into the parlour, how we shouted, " Surprise ! Surprise ! " Then the lights were turned on, and the games and fun began.

We are now invited to another surprise party, but of a very different sort. This time a little wild flower will surprise us.

Early in the springtime, there is a small flower that blooms in marshy ground, and along slow flowing streams, everywhere from Newfoundland to South Carolina, and as far west as Nebraska. It is called the marsh marigold. When Tennyson, a great English poet, saw it he said, " It shines like fire." The Indians gave it the name of " Onondaga," which means, " it blooms in the swamps."

It was once thought that marsh marigold was 23 poisonous. Those who still say so keep picking other flowers that look like marigold. Some people call the marigold " Cowslip," but it isn't the cowslip at all. Poor little plant! Shunned and despised as poisonous, and called by names that class it with the dangerous plants, just because people do not know any better. What a surprise some of these people must get when they discover that marigold is not poisonous.

The flower has no petals, but instead, from five to nine golden-yellow shining, under-petals, called sepals. In the center are many golden threads, still brighter than the sepals, and these are called stamens. The leaves are round or heart-shaped, and usually have a scallop edge. The stem is hollow and grooved.

Suppose we lost our way on some lonely country road. Tired and hungry, we sat down by a bed of marigold to die. We would not think of eating the marigold flowers to keep from starving, because we had heard they were poisonous. What a surprise we should get, if a passing stranger should tell us that we need not starve, for the marigold all about us was a real food that makes the body strong.

The leaves kept the Indians alive many a time, and we may eat them, too. They can be made into a salad, or eaten cooked. In some places marigold is pickled and sent to market. The Germans take the young flower buds, pickle them, and use them

THE MAESH MARIGOLD 25

for flavouring. What a surprise. A plant we were told to shun as poisonous, we suddenly discover to be a valuable food friend.

There are many little children like that. Some tell us they are so unruly and wicked they are like poison. But when we get to know them real well, to our surprise they are kind and gentle. We must carefully sift all the unkind remarks that come to our ears, because many times people do not really understand the child they are talking about.

There was a certain young lawyer defending an ignorant and lone woman. In the course of the case he spoke sharply to his opponent. The other lawyer then became angry, and said to him, " You are the nastiest and ugliest fellow I have ever dealt with." This was the first time they had met. The case lingered many months, and the two lawyers worked together very often after that. And one day the young attorney discovered a blunder through which his opponent might have lost hundreds of dollars. He quickly informed his opponent, and there was a little surprise party right then and there. The older lawyer took the young man by the hand. " I thank you, I thank you a thousand times," he said. " When I first met you, I thought you were the ugliest man I had ever tried to do business with, but forgive me, forgive me. Your kindness and honesty make you a noble youth indeed. I honour you."

What a surprise party when we meet a lad who we think is full of poison, but whom on better acquaintance we find sweet and true, with no poison in him at all.

There are many in the world to-day who think Jesus is a hard, sharp Master. They think He is too particular. All wrong-doers think He is like poison. And some children think He is too strict. They think Jesus deprives them of fun. But what a surprise we get when we become better acquainted with Him and find Him to be gentle, loving, helpful, and forgiving. He does not take our fun away, but makes us happier than ever.

When Saul of Tarsus first heard of Jesus, he hated Him so bitterly that he wanted to kill all the Christians. While on his way to the ancient city of Damascus, with a permit that allowed him to kill the Christians, he was struck by a blaze of light that threw him to the ground, and Jesus spoke to him. He now saw how tender and lovable Jesus was, so he arose and decided to stand by Jesus. His name was now changed to Paul. Later, when he was praising Jesus he was arrested and brought before the king. He told the king how once he had hated Jesus, but how after studying His wonderful life, he had found Him to be the Friend of man, and the Saviour of the world.

What a surprise party for Paul. The Man he thought was the worst, turned out to be the best in all the world. He thought He was poison, but found He was helpful and strengthening, — like

THE MARSH MAEIGOLD 27

marigold. At another time Jesus fell into the hands of a rough and mad mob. They could not find any witnesses against Him, so they hired a couple of men to swear that Jesus had committed certain wrongs, which they knew He had never committed at all. Pilate, the judge, made a thorough investigation of all that Jesus had said and done. He then stepped out before that crowd of haters, and said, " I find no fault in this Man."

Children who now think that Jesus is a little too strict, will get a wonderful surprise party if they, too, will give time and thought to the things Jesus has said and done. Boys and girls who now have no interest in Sunday School, or Junior Congregation, would meet with a happy surprise upon becoming better acquainted with Jesus.

Jesus desires that every child grow to be strong and pure. And because He will not let us do what we please, we sometimes shun Him. Why not begin now to study His plans and purposes for little children. He is not a hard taskmaster. He is a loving Friend.

Beautiful marsh marigold. They told us once it was poison, but we found it to be food, — good food. What a surprise.

^Jt w Pulpit

The root is white and mealy on the inside, and

can be eaten as a turnip.

IV Jack-in-the-pulpit

The Little Minister

ON a kitchen chair stood little five-year-old Herbert, with four other chairs in a row before him. He was wildly waving his hands, pounding his fists, and shouting at the top of his voice. In stepped the visiting pastor, by surprise, and when Herbert spied him he jumped from the chair and scooted off to his mother.

" What is Herbert trying to do ; imitate some crazy man?" asked the minister, as Herbert's mother appeared. She hesitated, but said finally, " No, Pastor, I must tell you, he is playing church, and he is imitating you. ,, The pastor laughed. " Well," said he, " that is the first time I ever saw myself in action."

In moist woodland, anywhere from Canada to Florida, and westward to Kansas and Minnesota, there is a little flower, growing from ten inches to three feet high, that imitates the preacher so well it has been named " Jack-in-the- Pulpit."

The root of the plant is shaped like a turnip, and the Indians ate this; so it is sometimes called " Indian's Turnip." The root has no odour, but a sharp burning taste, which it loses with age. The outside of the root is brownish gray, the inside white and mealy. Other names for this plant are wild pepper, devil's ear, swamp turnip, bog onion, and lords-and-ladies. We know it best as jack-in-the-pulpit.

Early in April and on into July, the quaint green and brownish purple hooded flowers of this preacher plant may be seen in the shady depths of the woods. Jack the preacher is represented by the spike that grows up in the center, while the large surrounding petal forms the pulpit. The flower is so shaped that it provides even a sounding board over the head of Jack.

The green spike in the center is called a spadix, and tiny flowers cluster about its base. The large encircling petal is called a spathe, and this is light green, striped with brown. The leaves are always in threes, egg-shaped, from three to six inches long, with one vein running parallel around the edge. Three leaflets form one leaf, and hang over the top of the pulpit, as if telling the subject of Jack's sermon, faith, hope and love.

In the vast woodland cathedral the message of jack-in-the-pulpit rings out as clear as the voice of a prophet. After the leaves wither, large clusters of bright berries remain. And that is the way it ought to be with every child who would like to help others. Long after childhood is past, the Christian life ought to be bearing fruit. God tells

JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT 31

us that "His Word shall not return unto Him void." So if we are faithful when young, much good will come out of our later years.

While God was making little ministers out of the wild woodland flower, He did not skip little children. He made all children to be His ministers. And, beautiful as the wild flower is, the child is much more so in the work of ministering and helping.

Little Samuel was only five years of age when his mother brought him to Eli, the minister of the church. She left him to be trained for the ministry, so Eli gave him an ephod to wear, that was a gown, such as ministers wore in those days; and every year his mother made him a new little mantle.

Samuel's first duties were to take care of the sacred candlesticks, and open the door of the church at sunrise. You see how even a child of five can be a little minister. Children can open and close the church doors softly, take good care of the hymn books, not tear them or draw funny pictures in them; they can be quiet through the service and attentive at all times. In doing this they will be little ministers.

There was a mother down on her knees scrubbing the kitchen floor. Her son, Richard, about ten years of age, just came in from school. He noticed that his mother was crying. Instantly he walked over to her side, put his little arms around her neck, and simply said, " Don't cry, Mother." Richard's mother was a widow, and having neither food nor money in the house, she was almost exhausted. And, besides, she had to move out of those rooms in a few days, and did not know where to go. But, when little Richard came to her so tenderly, she braced up in a jiffy, and somehow there came to her mind that sweet hymn:

" God will take care of you, Through every day, O'er all the way; God will take care of you."

Richard was a little minister that day. He now has grown old, and his body, like the leaves of old jack-in-the-pulpit, is withering away; but his kind deeds of ministering are left like a bunch of bright berries, even more beautiful than any jack-in-the-pulpit ever left.

One summer Sunday evening a minister noticed a mounted policeman, — boys call them " cops," — looking in the church window during the services. The next day the policeman called to see the minister and told this story. " Pastor," he said, " last night I drew my horse up to the open window of the church to listen to the singing and the sermon. I began to think of my dear old mother, who always prayed so earnestly for me. I have been a very bad man, Pastor." By this time the policeman was weeping. " But," he continued with his

JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT 33

story, " that dear little twelve-year-old daughter of mine keeps begging me to be a Christian, and I must be one, that's all there is to it."

The stalwart policeman united with that church the following Sunday, and his life from that moment became a remarkable one. Dozens of men, women, and children were led into a Christian life through his personal efforts. Later he became the superintendent of a Sunday School, where he taught hundreds of boys and girls how to be good and true.

His twelve-year-old daughter, " Dotty," was the little minister who started all this wonderful work. The little child did minister.

What a preacher and minister jack-in-the-pulpit is. Big as life he stands in his pulpit in the wild woodland flower, and his sermons go thundering out from under that sounding board. Every little boy and girl is even more of a minister.

Jhe Jndian I Cucumber- fioot

Its f lower is beautiful. Its root is both food and medicmo, with a taste like that of cucumber t

THE INDIAN CUCUMBER-ROOT Graves Thai Won't Stay Closed

FLOWERS are very much like children. Some are bold, vainly displaying their merits, as if they had heard admiring comment, and others seem to be forever trying to hide their virtues. The delicate pale pink of some flower petals seems like a blush on their cheeks.

Indian cucumber-root is one of those modest plants, because as it develops into usefulness, it tries to hide all its good deeds ; but it " could not be hid." People discovered its value, and sought it.

This plant has real beauty and talent, yet it remains modest. We are not so much that way ; we try to hide our bad deeds, but with vanity tell everybody of our good works. The Master did just the opposite. He was like the Indian cucumber-root. There was no wrong in His life to hide, but every time He did good, He tried to hush it up. One day He attempted to slip away from the crowds for a rest, but the people pleaded for His help. St. Mark says, " Jesus could not hide Himself." He could not be hid.

36 WHAT THE WILD FLOWEE8 TELL US

The beautiful little flowers of the Indian cucumber-root are not easy to find, because they nod under the upper leaves of the plant, where they try to hide. The tall, slender stem grows from one to three feet high. The root is very thick, lies horizontally in the ground, and tastes like a cucumber. The Indians ate it, and we use it to-day in preparing various medicines.

About midway on the stem, five to nine lanceshaped leaves grow out from the same joint in a circle. At the top there are three smaller similar leaves, and under these the flowers seek their hiding place.

From New Brunswick to Manitoba and southward to the Gulf, the Indian cucumber-root will be found flowering in rich w T oods, during May and June. Its beauty pleased so many, and its virtues healed so many, it could not be hid.

Children's lives are like that. Every child is beautiful and useful, but a child is mostly so when, like the Indian cucumber-root, having done a good deed, he tries to hide it deep in his own soul. Children who always tell the good they do soon lose their charms.

According to the fairy tale, long years ago there was a king who was known for his great wisdom. Every day at noon a large covered dish was set before him at dinner. One day after he left the table, the curious servant carried the dish to his own room, locked the door, then removed the

THE INDIAN CUCUMBEB-EOOT 37

cover, and found there on that dish a white snake. He tasted it, and the instant it touched his tongue he heard strange whisperings, for the piece of white snake which he had eaten had given him power to understand the speech of animals and birds.

That very day the queen lost her ring, and this servant was accused of stealing it. He was allowed only twenty-four hours in which to get the ring. Bowed with sadness, he went out into the courtyard, and there he heard one duck say to another that he had swallowed a ring that morning. The servant seized the duck, and had it killed. When the cook was preparing it for roasting she found the ring in the duck's stomach.