THE DANDELION CLOCK

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 206, 19 November 1927, Page 27 (Supplement)

THE DANDELION CLOCK

Once there was a tall dandelion, growing in a field, and all the other dandelions called her "Lanky." She had not meant to grow so high, but, living among tall grasses she had to stretch in order to get her share of the sunlight. Her neighbours—the tall grasses—told hex; not to mind being teased. "You may find your heigh an advantage one of these days,” they said. And, indeed, when the Fairy Queen’s wedding took place the dandelion had a splendid view, and was much envied by the other field flowers, who complained afterwards that they had not seen a tiling at all. But the dandelion was to have a bigger reason than that to be thankful for her height. The time came when she had dressed her babies in their downy coats and was waiting for Mr. Wind to come and fetch them. “Don’t let him take you too far,” she warned her babies, little thinking that the poor dears might not be able to help themselves if Mr. Wind was rough. But. as it happened. Mr. Wind was not going to have the honour of carrying the tall dandelion's babies alter all. A little boy came into the field one day and saw what he called a “dandelion clock.” Running to the spot, he knelt among the tall grasses and gave three gentle little puffs at it. At once the dandelion babies rose lightly out of their mother’s arms and sank to the ground. How pleased the mother was to notice that none of them bad blown out of sight. “Now’ I shall be able to watch mv darlings grow.” she said, happily. “It was your height that attracted the little boy’s attention,” said the grasses, so you musn’t grumble about being tall any more. If you had had to entrust your babies to the careless Mr. Wind, most likely he would have dropped them into the river.” The dandelion shuddered. She means to encourage all her babies to grow tall. And whenever you see a “dandelion clock” don’t forget to blow’ it away. Then the babies will be able to stay near their mother and not be scattered by the wind.