stories to tell to children(儿童故事)-第27节
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in sight。
But a very few mornings after that； when Margery went out； there was
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a funny little crack opening up through the earth； the whole length of the
patch。 Quickly she knelt down in the footpath； to see。 Yes！ Tiny green
leaves； a whole row of them； were pushing their way through the crust！
Margery knew what she had put there： it was the radish…row； these must
be radish leaves。 She examined them very closely； so that she might know
a radish next time。 The little leaves； no bigger than half your little…finger
nail； grew in twos；two on each tiny stem； they were almost round。
Margery flew back to her mother； to say that the first seeds were up。
And her mother； nearly as excited as Margery； came to look at the little
crack。
Each day； after that； the row of radishes grew； till； in a week； it stood
as high as your finger； green and sturdy。 But about the third day； while
Margery was stooping over the radishes； she saw something very； very
small and green； peeping above ground； where the lettuce was planted。
Could it be weeds？ No； for on looking very closely she saw that the wee
leaves faintly marked a regular row。 They did not make a crack； like the
radishes； they seemed too small and too far apart to push the earth up like
that。 Margery leaned down and looked with all her eyes at the baby plants。
The tiny leaves grew two on a stem； and were almost round。 The more she
looked at them the more it seemed to Margery that they looked exactly as
the radish looked when it first came up。 〃Do you suppose；〃 Margery said
to herself； 〃that lettuce and radish look alike？ They don't look alike in the
market！〃
Day by day the lettuce grew； and soon the little round leaves were
easier to examine； they certainly were very much like radish leaves。
Then； one morning； while she was searching the ground for signs of
seeds； Margery discovered the beets。 In irregular patches on the row； hints
of green were coming。 The next day and the next they grew； until the beet
leaves were big enough to see。
Margery looked。 Then she looked again。 Then she wrinkled her
forehead。 〃Can we have made a mistake？〃 she thought。 〃Do you suppose
we can have planted all radishes？〃
For those little beet leaves were almost round； and they grew two on a
stem； precisely like the lettuce and the radish； except for the size； all three
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rows looked alike。
It was too much for Margery。 She ran to the house and found her father。
Her little face was so anxious that he thought something unpleasant had
happened。 〃Papa；〃 she said； all out of breath； 〃do you think we could have
made a mistake about my garden？ Do you think we could have put
radishes in all the rows？〃
Father laughed。 〃What makes you think such a thing？〃 he asked。
〃Papa；〃 said Margery； 〃the little leaves all look exactly alike！ every
plant has just two tiny leaves on it； and shaped the same； they are roundish；
and grow out of the stem at the same place。〃
Papa's eyes began to twinkle。 〃Many of the dicotyledonous plants look
alike at the beginning；〃 he said； with a little drawl on the big word。 That
was to tease Margery； because she always wanted to know the big words
she heard。
〃What's ‘dicotyledonous'？〃 said Margery； carefully。
〃Wait till I come home to…night； dear；〃 said her father； 〃and I'll tell
you。〃
That evening Margery was waiting eagerly for him； when her father
finished his supper。 Together they went to the garden； and father examined
the seedlings carefully。 Then he pulled up a little radish plant and a tiny
beet。
〃These little leaves；〃 he said； 〃are not the real leaves of the plant； they
are only little food…supply leaves； little pockets to hold food for the plant
to live on till it gets strong enough to push up into the air。 As soon as the
real leaves come out and begin to draw food from the air； these little
substitutes wither up and fall off。 These two lie folded up in the little seed
from the beginning； and are full of plant food。 They don't have to be very
special in shape； you see； because they don't stay on the plant after it is
grown up。〃
〃Then every plant looks like this at first？〃 said Margery。
〃No； dear； not every one； plants are divided into two kinds： those
which have two food leaves； like these plants； and those which have only
one； these are called dicotyledonous； and the ones which have but one
food leaf are monocotyledonous。 Many of the dicotyledons look alike。〃
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〃I think that is interesting；〃 said Margery。 〃I always supposed the
plants were different from the minute they began to grow。〃
〃Indeed； no；〃 said father。 〃Even some of the trees look like this when
they first come through； you would not think a birch tree could look like a
vegetable or a flower； would you？ But it does； at first； it looks so much
like these things that in the great nurseries； where trees are raised for
forests and parks； the workmen have to be very carefully trained； or else
they would pull up the trees when they are weeding。 They have to be
taught the difference between a birch tree and a weed。〃
〃How funny！〃 said Margery dimpling。
〃Yes； it sounds funny；〃 said father； 〃but you see； the birch tree is
dicotyledonous； and so are many weeds； and the dicotyledons look much
alike at first。〃
〃I am glad to know that； father；〃 said Margery； soberly。 〃I believe
maybe I shall learn a good deal from living in the country； don't you think
so？〃
Margery's father took her in his arms。 〃I hope so； dear；〃 he said； 〃the
country is a good place for little girls。〃
And that was all that happened； that day。
THE TALKATIVE TORTOISE＇1＇
＇1＇ Very freely adapted from one of the Fables of Bidpai。
Once upon a time； a Tortoise lived in a pond with two Ducks； who
were her very good friends。 She enjoyed the company of the Ducks；
because she could talk with them to her heart's content； the Tortoise liked
to talk。 She always had something to say； and she liked to hear herself say
it。
After many years of this pleasant living； the pond became very low；
in a dry season； and finally it dried up。 The two Ducks saw that they could
no longer live there； so they decided to fly to another region； where there
was more water。 They went to the Tortoise to bid her good…by。
〃Oh； don't leave me behind！〃 begged the Tortoise。 〃Take me with you；
I must die if I am left here。〃
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〃But you cannot fly！〃 said the Ducks。 〃How can we take you with us？〃
〃Take me with you！ take me with you！〃 said the Tortoise。
The Ducks felt so sorry for her that at last they thought of a way to
take her。 〃We have thought of a way which will be possible；〃 they said； 〃if
only you can manage to keep still long enough。 We will each take hold of
one end of a stout stick； and do you take the middle in your mouth； then
we will fly up in the air with you and carry you with us。 But remember not
to talk！ If you open your mouth； you are lost。〃
The Tortoise said she would not say a word； she would not so much as
move her mouth； and she was very grateful。 So the Ducks brought a strong
little stick and took hold of the ends； while the Tortoise bit firmly on the
middle。 Then the two Ducks rose slowly in the air and flew away with
their burden。
When they were above the treetops； the Tortoise wanted to say； 〃How
high we are！〃 But she remembered； and kept still。 When they passed the
church steeple she wanted to say； 〃What is that which shines？〃 But she
remembered； and held her peace。 Then they came over the village square；
and the people looked up and saw them。 〃Look at the Ducks carrying a
Tortoise！〃 they shouted； and every one ran to look。 The Tortoise wanted to
say； 〃What
