CHAPTER XLI

BUTTERCUP AND DAISY FAMILIES

“THE next family,” announced Jack-in-the-Pulpit, “will be the—

BUTTERCUP FAMILY

At the moment Bouncing Bet whistled, in danced the family headed by little Buttercup.

“My name’s little _Buttercup_,” she sang.

You can imagine how lovely she looked dressed in shiny yellow, trimmed with green.

Then she introduced the others:

“This is _Columbine_; this, _Marsh Marigold_; this _Larkspur_,” she said, “and this is _Cowslip_; and this, _Pæony_.”

All the beautiful flowers bowed and smiled and threw kisses as they danced to the place Bouncing Bet pointed out to them.

“Aren’t they lovely,” murmured Mary Frances. “I’ve always loved buttercups, but I hadn’t any idea there were so many beautiful members of their family.”

“Oh, there are many more,” spoke Jack, “but our time is shortening, and as Daisy wants very much to greet you, I shall call for some members of the very large—

SUNFLOWER FAMILY (COMPOSITE FAMILY)

Such a number of flower people came dancing and running in that it was difficult to see who was who, with the exception of the big Sunflower who led them.

“I’m _Daisy_,” called a charming gold and white flower fairy. “And I love everybody, no matter whether everybody loves me or not.”

“Oh, we love you!” shouted Mary Frances and Eleanor. “You are a dear!”

“I hope you love all the Sunflower family,” spoke up a big _Chrysanthemum_.

“Oh, please love me!” “And me!” “And me!” “And me!” begged _Dahlia_, and _Goldenrod_, and _Aster_, and _Cosmos_.

“And me!” said the _Bachelor’s Button_ in a deep masculine voice.

“And me!” repeated a dudish-looking _Dandelion_, at whose comical dress the girls couldn’t help smiling, for he was rigged up in the height of an old-fashioned style, with a high collar and a knotted green tie; with “pumps” on his feet—and he carried a grass-blade cane!

“I know they love me!” There stood _Black-eyed Susan_, with arms akimbo.

“We’ve loved you for years!” declared the girls.

“Here comes that _Everlasting Flower_!” exclaimed Dandelion.

“What a way to speak!” whispered Eleanor; but the speech of Dandelion was soon explained when a crisp Strawflower, or “Everlasting,” came stiffly in.

“Everlastingly late,” said the new-comer dryly, “but nothing like so common as some flowers,” glancing at Dandelion.

“Don’t disgrace the family by quarreling,” warned the big Sunflower.

“It’s so hard to keep such a big family straight,” he said with a sigh, yet he went on proudly, “You see, ours is the very largest flower family. There are from 11,000 to 12,000 members of the Sunflower or Composite Family.”

“I wonder how many different kinds of plants are known,” said Mary Frances to Eleanor.

“About 120,000,” answered Jack, who overheard from his pulpit. “I wish we could show you all the different flower families, and tell you about them, but as we haven’t time, we will explain about just a few more. Bet, will you begin?”

Then Bouncing Bet began to speak in her sweet musical voice.

“The _beans_ and _peas_ you eat belong to the same family as the _clover_. It is the _Pulse_ family. The _cranberry_ and the _honeysuckle_ and the _rhododendron_ and _trailing arbutus_ are of the _Heath_ family.”

“And may I ask,” interrupted Mary Frances, “to what family you belong?”

“And Jack?” added Eleanor, eagerly.

“Thank you for the questions, dear children,” smiled the delighted little fairy. “I will tell you: _Jack-in-the-Pulpit_ belongs to the _Arum_ family. Calla lily and——”

Here the fairy looked at him and giggled. “Shall I tell them, Jack?” she asked.

“Go ahead,” replied Jack a little grimly. “Maybe they better hold their noses while you mention that other member of my family,” he suggested.

“Well, the beautiful white calla lily and—and—” Bet hesitated.

“Say on,” said Jack, “or I’ll tell, myself.”

“Well, Skunk Cabbage, then,” said Bouncing Bet, “_Calla Lily_ and _Skunk Cabbage_ belong to Jack-in-the-Pulpit’s family.”

“Mercy!” Mary Frances exclaimed before she knew it.

“Oh,” gasped Eleanor.

“I beg your pardon—indeed, I do!” said Mary Frances to Jack.

“Oh, never mind,” he replied, “I must say we are not very proud of that branch of the family, but they have one thing about them which is very interesting. They are the very first flowers in the Spring—oftentimes blooming in February. There are other members of the _Arum_ family, though, of which we are prouder.”

“He’ll tell you about them later,” smiled Bouncing Bet.

“Your family isn’t the same as his, then?” queried Eleanor.

“No,” she replied, “I belong to the _Pink_ family.”

“Oh,” asked Mary Frances, “are all your family pink in color?”

“Oh, no,” Jack answered her. “She’s all dressed up in her Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes. She just borrowed that ‘queen’s lace’ gown. _Queen’s_ lace belongs to Wild Carrot, you know, and _Wild Carrot_ belongs to the _Parsley_ family. Run, Bet, and take off your party clothes. Dress in your own clothes; then they’ll recognize you.”

Bet bounced away, laughing, and returned almost immediately in her every-day dress of—you know, calico-and-gingham-like petals.

“Now we know you, Miss Bet,” cried Mary Frances; “but even your every-day dress is light pink! Are you sure all your family doesn’t wear pink all the time?”

“Oh, no,” answered Bouncing Bet, “you’ll soon see that that is not the case when I mention my cultivated cousin, _Carnation_; and another cousin, _Sweet William_.”

“And you’ll be glad to know also,” laughed Jack, “that among her relatives is _Dusty Miller_.”

“Now, Jack,” laughed Bet, “that’s an old joke of yours! Please go on and tell something about some other members of your own family.