The Old Willow Tree and Other Stories

Excerpt: ...to do me a tiny service? All right, said the wind. What is it? Oh, I only wanted to ask you to shake me a little! said the flower. I have opened some shutters in my head and I should like to have my seeds sent a good distance out into the world. But you must be sure not to tell the others, or they might think of doing the same thing. Lord preserve us! said the wind and laughed. I shall be dumb as a fish. And then he gave the flower a thorough good shaking and went on. Dear Wind, dear Wind! cried the dandelion. Where are you off to so fast? Is there anything the matter with you too? asked the wind. Not a bit, said the dandelion. I only wanted to have a word with you. Then be quick about it, said the wind, for I am thinking seriously of going down. You see, said the dandelion, it's very difficult for us this year to get all our seed settled; and yet one would like to do the best one can for one's children. How the bell-flower and the poppy and the poor burdock will manage I do not know, upon my word. But the thistle and I have put our heads together and have hit upon an expedient. You must help us. That makes four in all, thought the wind and could not help laughing aloud. What are you laughing at? asked the dandelion. I saw you whispering with the bell-flower and the poppy just now; but, if you give them the least hint, I won't tell you a thing. Pg 85 What do you take me for? said the wind. Mum's the word! What is it you want? We've put a nice little umbrella up at the top of our seed. It's the sweetest little toy that you can think of. If you only just blow on me, it will fly up in the air and fall down wherever you please. Will you? Certainly, said the wind. And-whoosh!-he blew over the thistle and the dandelion and carried all their seed with him across the fields. 3 The burdock still stood pondering. She was thick-headed and that was why she took so long. But, in the evening, a hare jumped...