along the hedge and beside the ditch stood the weeds. thistle and burdock, poppy and bell-flower and dandelion grew in thick clusters and all had their heads full of seed. for them, too, it had been a fruitful year, for the sun shines and the rain falls on the poor weeds just as much as on the rich corn.

"there's no one to cut us and cart us to the barn," said the dandelion and shook her head, but very carefully, lest the seed should fall too soon. "what is to become of our children?"

"it gives me a headache to think of it," said the poppy. "here i stand, with many hundreds of seeds in my head, and i have no idea where to dispose of them."

"let's ask the rye's advice," said the burdock.

and then they asked the rye what they ought to do.

"it doesn't do to mix in other people's affairs when one's well off," said the rye. "there is only one piece of advice that i will give you: mind you don't fling your silly seed over my field, or you'll have me to deal with!"

now this advice was of no use to the wild flowers; and they stood all day pondering as to what they should do. when the sun went down, they closed their petals to go to sleep, but they dreamt all night of their seed and next morning they had found a remedy.

the poppy was the first to wake.

she carefully opened some little shutters in the top of her head, so that the sun could shine right in upon the seeds. next, she called to the morning wind, who was running and playing along the hedge:

"dear wind," she said, pleasantly. "will you do me a service?"

"why not?" said the wind. "i don't mind having something to do."

"it's a mere trifle," said the poppy. "i will only ask you to give a good shake to my stalk, so that my seeds can fly away out of the shutters."

"right you are," said the wind.

and away flew the seeds to every side. the stalk certainly snapped; but that the poppy did not bother about. for, when one has provided for one's children, there's really nothing left to do in this world.

"good-bye," said the wind and wanted to go on.

"wait a bit," said the poppy. "promise me first that you won't tell the others. else they might have the same ideas; and then

there would be less room for my seeds."

"i shall be silent as the grave," said the wind and ran away.

"pst! pst!" said the bell-flower. "have you a moment 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."

"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.