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Updated: May 3, 2025
The white paint on the two square wooden columns of the gateway had peeled and flaked, and the columns themselves had rotted at the base into broken fangs, and hung loosely upon their inner-posts; one of them sagged sidewise from the weight of the open gate which had long ago settled down into the burdocks and wild parsley that bordered the weedy driveway.
Here and there stood an apple and a plumb-tree, or else one never would have thought that it was a garden; all was burdocks, and there lived the two last venerable old snails. They themselves knew not how old they were, but they could remember very well that there had been many more; that they were of a family from foreign lands, and that for them and theirs the whole forest was planted.
The cottage never had more than two owners, for it could not hold up that heavy roof on its walls of reeds and clay for more than two generations. But as long as it stood, it was owned by poor widows. The second widow who lived there delighted in watching the burdocks, especially in the autumn, when they were dried and broken. They recalled her who had built the cottage.
"Roly-Poly, say something still funnier, in verse," begged Verka. And at once, obediently, having placed himself in a funny pose, he began to declaim: "Many stars are in the bright sky, But to count them there's no way. Yes, the wind whispers there can be, But there really is no way. Blossoming now are burdocks, Now sing out the birds called cocks."
Rays from the bull's-eyes were thrown into every nook and cranny. Very small laddies insinuated themselves into the narrowest places. They climbed upon high vaults and let themselves down in last year's burdocks and tangled vines. It was all done in silence, only Mr. Traill speaking at all. He went everywhere with the searchers, and called: "Whaur are ye, Bobby? Come awa' oot, laddie!"
"Well," sez he, "I'm a deacon and I can't bear the thought of religious interests languishin' for my help." Sez I, "Seven folks wuz baptized last Sunday: the meetin' house wuz never so prosperous." And then he went on and said political ties wuz drawin' him, and he brung up fatherly feelin's for the children, and cuttin' up burdocks, and buildin' stun walls, and etcetery.
They were all pictures of destitution, and especially the whilom debonair poet. His condition was almost pitiable. Some knavish rascal had thrust burdocks into his hair and another had smeared his face with balsam sap. He had thrashed one of these tormentors, and had been belabored in return.
The stinging-nettles are seven feet high in places; we must hold our hands high above our heads and plough our way through them. When we finally emerge we are covered from head to foot with large prickly burrs from the seeding burdocks, as well as with the small round burrs of the goose-grass. Then "On and up where nature's heart Beats strong amid the hills."
Can you make roses grow on burdocks?" "No!" said the prince. "Then the thistle is your flower," said clever Ileane. "Can you make the bat sing in a sweet voice?" "No!" said the prince. "Then night is your day," said clever Ileane. "Can you make apples grow on wolf's-bane?" "That I can!" said the prince. "Then that shall be your fruit!" replied the beautiful and cunning Ileane.
The children strayed in here to pick some grasses and weeds, which they thought were flowers. "Unfortunately, a lot of burdocks grew there, and, of course, the children picked them, and stuck them together, with great delight.
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