THE TUMBLE-WEED FROLIC pgs 51-52

Remember that this was not a game, not at all; for the weeds were real and they looked like jolly fellows running a race across the new sod. As already mentioned the new farm was broken or plowed up during the spring and summer. But before frost came multitude of weeds grew up. Each had a single big root which did not grow deep into the earth and a very large bushy top which grew to immense size during the summer. Then frost came, however, they dried and the root was readily loosened. It was thus that the frolic began.

Since there were no fences nothing but the tall grass or hay stacks or buildings would stop an object that could be moved by the high winds. And so when these weeds were loosened, they went flying helter-skelter before the gale over the new breaking and across the prairie. All the big and little weeds went tumbling along at a great speed; they seemed to be in a mad race to get somewhere before dark. Some were as big as bass drums and then there were tiny fellows that soon got lost in the race. When something interfered these rolling spheres would pile up like snowdrifts and they made a fine blaze in a prairie fire.