Author Description

Mother Nature unfolds some of her most precious secrets. She tells about amber, about the dragon-fly and its wonderful history, about water-lilies, how the Indian corn grows, what odd doings the Frost Giants engage in, about coral, and starfish, and coal mines, and many other things in which children take delight. Ages 7-10 "You may think that Mother Nature, like the famous "old woman who lived in the shoe," has so many children that she doesn't know what to do. But you will know better when you become acquainted with her, and learn how strong she is, and how active; how she can really be in fifty places at once, taking care of a sick tree, or a baby flower just born; and, at the same time, building underground palaces, guiding the steps of little travellers setting out on long journeys, and sweeping, dusting, and arranging her great house,-the earth. And all the while, in the midst of her patient and never-ending work, she will tell us the most charming and marvellous stories of ages ago when she was young, or of the treasures that lie hidden in the most distant and secret closets of her palace; just such stories as you all like so well to hear your mother tell when you gather round her in the twilight." CONTENTS. THE STORY OF THE AMBER BEADS THE NEW LIFE THE TALK OF THE TREES THAT STAND IN THE VILLAGE STREET HOW THE INDIAN CORN GROWS WATER-LILIES THE CARRYING TRADE SEA-LIFE WHAT THE FROST GIANTS DID TO NANNIE'S RUN HOW QUERCUS ALBA WENT TO EXPLORE THE UNDERWORLD, AND WHAT CAME OF IT TREASURE-BOXES A PEEP INTO ONE OF GOD'S STOREHOUSES THE HIDDEN LIGHT SIXTY-TWO LITTLE TADPOLES GOLDEN-ROD AND ASTERS