LESSON 13 WHAT IS IT?

WHAT IS IT?

1. There is a plant you often see

In gardens and in fields;

Its stalk is straight, its leaves are long,

And precious [1] fruit it yields.

2. Its fruit, when young, is soft and white,

And closely wrapped in green;

And tassels hang from every ear,

Which children love to glean [2] .

MAIZE PLANT.

3. But when the tassel's dry and brown,

The fruit is ripe and old;

It peeps from out the wrapping dry

Like beads of yellow gold.

4. The fruit, when young, we boil and roast;

When old, we grind it well.

Now think of all the plants you know,

And try its name to tell.

* * *

[1] precious: Valuable.

[2] glean: Gather.