Buttercup_Gold_and_Other_Stories

BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES

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BUTTERCUP GOLDAND OTHER STORIES

Ellen Robena Field

http://www.chinahourly.com


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The Little New YearOne cold morning Maurice awoke from his dreams and sat up in bed

and listened. He thought he heard a knock at his window; but though themoon was shining brightly, Jack Frost had been so busily at work thatMaurice could not see through the thickly painted panes. So he creptsleepily out of bed, and opened the window, and whispered: "Who isthere?"

"I am," replied a tinkling voice. "I am the little New Year, ho! ho! AndI've promised to bring a blessing to everyone. But I am such a little fellowI need somebody to help me distribute them. Won't you please come outand help?"

"Oh, it's so cold!" said Maurice; "I'd rather go back to my warm bed; "and he shivered as Jack Frost, who was passing, tickled him under the chinwith one of the frosty paint brushes.

"Never mind the cold," urged the New Year; "please help me."So Maurice hurried into his clothes, and was soon out in the yard.

There he found a rosy-cheeked boy a little smaller than himself, pulling alarge cart which seemed to be loaded with good things. On one side of thiscart was painted the word "Love," and on the other "Kindness." As soon asthe New Year saw Maurice he said, "Now please take hold and help mepull;" and down the driveway and up the hill they travelled until they cameto an old shanty.

"Here is where I make my first call," said the New Year. Mauricelooked wonderingly at him. "Why, nobody lives here but an old coloredman who works for us; and he hasn't any children!" "He needs my help,"said the New Year; "for grown people like to be thought of just as much aschildren do. You shovel out a path to his door, while I unload some of myblessings; and the little hands went busily at work, piling up warmclothing, wood, and a new year's dinner, the New Year singing as heworked:-

"Oh, I am the little New Year; ho! ho! Here I come tripping it over thesnow, Shaking my bells with a merry din; So open your door and let mein."



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Old Joe, hearing some noise outside, came to the door, and when hesaw all the nice gifts the tears ran down his cheeks for gladness; and as hecarried them into the house, he whispered: "The dear Lord has been hereto-night."

"Where am we going now?" asked Maurice, as they ran down the hill."To take some flowers to a poor sick girl," answered the New Year.

Soon they came to a small white house, where the New Year stopped."Why, Bessie, our sewing girl lives, here," said Maurice. "I didn't knowshe was sick." "See," said the New Year, "this window is open a little; letus throw this bunch of pinks into the room. They will please her when shewakes, and will make her happy for several days."

Then they hurried to other places, leaving some blessing behind them."What a wonderful cart you have," said Maurice; "though you have

taken so much out, it never seems to get empty." "You are right, Maurice,there is never any end to love and kindness. As long as I find people tolove and be kind to, my cart is full of blessings for them; and it will nevergrow empty until I can no longer find people to help. If you will go withme every day and help me scatter my blessings, you will see how happyyou will be all the long year."

"A happy New Year!" called some one; and Maurice found himself inbed, and his sister standing in the doorway smiling at him. "Have you hada pleasant dream, dear?" she asked.

"Why, where is the little New Year?" said Maurice; "he was just herewith me."

"Come into Mamma's room and see what he has brought you,"answered his sister. There in a snowy white cradle he found a tiny babybrother, the gift of the New.Year. How happy Maurice was then! But hedid not forget his dream. Old Joe and Bessie had their gifts, too, andMaurice tried so hard to be helpful that he made all his friends gladbecause the happy New Year had come.



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Mother Nature's House CleaningOne morning Mother Nature stood at the door of her house looking out

over the world. King Winter's reign was over and he had gone back to hishome at the North Pole; and Spring was coming over the hill with herthree little helpers to make Mother Nature a visit.

Let us see who these helpers were. First there was roguish March withhis rosy cheeks, and his curly hair flying in the winds that blew all abouthim. Next came Baby April with her apron full of violets, daffodillies, andgreen grasses. Part of the time she smiled sweetly, and part of it shefrowned till the big tear drops chased each other down her cheeks. Lastcame May, playing tag with the sunbeams, wandering knee-deep inflowers, and calling to the birds that sang around her:

Mother Nature watched them coming and murmured, "Such a dirtyworld as King Winter has left behind him! It must be cleaned up before thelittle girls, April and May, come, but March I am sure will want to help medo it."

She beckoned to the frolicsome boy who came racing down the hill tosee what she wanted. "I must have some rain to wash away all this dirtysnow," she said; so March whistled to the East Wind, who blew togetherthe rain-clouds, and soon the tiny rain drops were busy at work washingthe floors of the world, and in a short time the snow was all gone. ThenMother Nature wanted the sky ceilings cleaned, so this time Marchwhistled to the West Wind who began to sweep away the cloud cobwebsfrom the sky till the cheery old sun smiled again, and shone Mother Naturea bright "good morning."

"Now March," said she, "there is one more thing you can do to help.You must start the work for Baby April." Then March, with the SouthWind to help him, awoke the seeds, whispered to the trees to begin to bud,started the brooks singing, and called the robins back from the South.

When his visit was over Mother Nature thanked him for helping her sowell on all of the thirty-one days he had spent with her, and told him shewould send for him again when her next cleaning day came around.



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How the Raindrops and SunbeamsHelped

One morning Mother Nature looked about her, and said: "My childrenhave had such a nice long rest and it will do them good, for they have abusy summer before them. It is time to go to work now, and as some of thebabies just won't wake up till they have to, I must send for my helpers atonce." The long days carried her messages, which in our language wouldhave read something like this:-

My Dear Helpers, Sunbeams, and Raindrops:--You are needed down here on eurth. It is time to dress my plant

children, and give them work to do. The birds must be called back fromthe South, and the cocooons must be opened so that my butterflies cancome out. I shall have to make good soil and get my clover beds ready forthe honey makers. Come at once, as some have been sleeping too longalready. Whisper to the trees as you pass that it is time they were budding,Be gentle with all, for they are my children, and I love them.

Good-bye, from your Mother NatureThis she directed to the Sunbeams at Blue Sky Park, and the Raindrops

at Cloud Land. When the message reached these little helpers, they startedoff at once to obey the call, and the sun gave such a merry laugh, thatGrandma came to the door of the farm house and remarked: "How warm itis today, quite like spring; I believe I will set out my geraniums." But justthen a silvery voice said: "Wait a little while longer till we make theground soft," and pop came a raindrop upon the dear old lady's nose, andshe hurried into the house, saying "What queer weather we are having!first sun and then rain." Then the Raindrops and Sunbeams smiled at eachother, and danced more merrily, for they knew what good work they weredoing to the great brown house where the flowers dwell.

The tap, tap, of the Raindrops wake them up, and when they raisedtheir sleepy heads and felt the warm kisses of the Sunbeams, they wereglad and began to grow. Soft breezes called to the leaves to come out, andsoon the brown coats which the trees had worn all winter were replaced by



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new green dresses. Pussy willow and snowdrop were the first to herald thespring, and crocus and violet soon followed. Out in the woods blossomedtiny pink and white May flowers. Little seeds burst off their jackets andsent up green plumes. Then Mother Nature called her helpers again andtold them to search for the lilies, and dress them in white robes for Easter.And so each beautiful flower came again--and the birds sang once more,and the children were glad that spring had come again. The little helpershad done their work well, and were happy--and every one thanked God forthe spring.


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Rock-A-By Baby"Rock-a-by baby in the tree top, When the wind blows the cradle will

rock."Helena was playing with her dolls under the Maple tree in the garden.

It was the first warm day of spring, and the little girl was glad to be out ofdoors again, and to rock her babies to sleep on one of the low branches.

But she was not the only one singing a lullaby that bright sunnymorning, for Mother Nature was singing one, too, and a soft breeze wasgently tucking some little brown cradles to and fro in the tree tops. Somewere very, very small, and others wen larger, but each held a wee leafbaby, fast asleep. The next time Helena came out to play, the babies in thetreetop were waking up, and she could see them in their dainty greennightdresses, peeping out at the world. During the next week they grew agreat deal, and one of them crept out of their cradles which fell down tothe ground, leaving the babies still up in the tree top.

By the time Spring went away, the babies had grown large and strong,and spread beautiful green parasols to give shade to their friends throughthe hot, dusty days of summer. When Autumn came, Mother Nature gavethem a holiday, and how pretty they looked in their gay gowns as theyfrolicked with the wind!

Then they said good-by to the Maple tree, and went dancing andwhirling over the fields to meet King Winter. When Helena looked intotheir old homes on the tree, she found some more tiny brown cradles, andknew that in them were new leaf babies that sleep safely til Spring comesagain to visit Earthdom, and wakes each "baby in the tree top."


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A Child of SpringI know a little maiden, She is very fair and sweet, As she trips among

the grasses That kiss her dainty feet; Her arms are full of flowers, Thesnow-drops, pure and white, Timid blue-eyed violets, And daffodilliesbright.

She loves dear Mother Nature, And wanders by her side; She beckonsto the birdlings That flock from far and wide. She wakes the babybrooklets, Soft breezes hear her call; She tells the little children Thesweetest tales of all.

Her brow is sometimes clouded, And she sighs with gentle grace, Tillthe sunbeams, daring lovers, Kiss the teardrops from her face. Well weknow this dainty maiden, For April is her name; And we welcome her withgladness, As the springtime comes again.

Mr. Frog's StoryDown in the garden is a pretty brook, and something funny happened

one day as I was sitting watching the tadpoles and minnows playing tagand hide-and-goseek. All at once something gave a jump out of the waterand with a loud "kerchunk," landed on a stone near by. It was Mr. Frog,and as "kerchunk" in frog language means "how do you do?" I repliedpolitely and inquired for his health.

He assured me that he was well and happy, and went on talking. "Didyou know that I was once a tadpole just like those little creatures in thebrook?

"I have heard people say that you were," I answered. "You would notbelieve it to look at me now, would you?"

"No," I said, for certainly he did not look at all like the queer littleanimals I was watching.

"Yes," he continued, "once I was a tiny black egg in a globe of clearwhite jelly, and floated around along the bank of this same brook. Soon Igrew into a wee tadpole, and freed myself from the globe of jelly, andfound I could swim about. I had a long flat tail which I used as a paddle tohelp me swim. I had no feet nor legs then, but I grew very fast, and soontwo legs came out near my tail, and by and by two front ones came, and I


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did not need my tail any more, so it disappeared. Then I discovered that Ihad a long, slender tongue to catch insects with. My skin, too, hadchanged, and is now covered with beautiful spots, and if you look at myeyes you will see how bright they are.

"I live beside this brook with my family, and my cousins, the toads;and in the spring and summer evenings we sing to our little tadpolechildren, and tell them of the time when they, too, will grow up and betoads and frogs."

Here Mr. Frog paused, and before I could thank him for his interestingstory, he gave a loud "kadunk," which means "good-by," and with a splashhe was off for a swim in the brook.


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The Robin

I.

One day, while walking home from the Kindergarten, I met sometravellers coining from the South. They did not come on the car or the boat,but they travelled very quickly. As they passed me I fancied I heard themsay, "How do you do? We are glad to see you again. Are there plenty ofhouses to rent this Spring? You will have a great many more visitors byand by, for our friends are coming North as soon as the weather gets alittle warmer."

"Yes," I replied, "some of the houses you occupied last spring arewaiting for you, and you will find pleasant places on which to build newones in Crab Apple Lane, Woodbine Walk, Maple Park, and Apple TreeAvenue."

"Thank you," they called, and hurried on, leaving me to wonder whatsort of a journey they had. All day long I saw them flying to and fro,carrying loads of straw and mud.

Just at twilight there came a rap at my window, and there stood Mr.Robin Redbreast, looking in as saucily as you please. "I thought you'd bethere," he chirped; "and if you will look out a minute, I'll show you myhouse."

Sure enough, there was a tiny home on Apple tree Avenue, just at thecorner of Branch Alley. There was a cellar of mud, and the rest of thecottage was neatly woven of straw. "How do you like it?" he chirped.

Of course I admired it, and asked him if he was all ready to go tohousekeeping. "All but the beds," he replied, "but if you will give mesome hair and a few feathers, I will soon have a soft place for our eggs torest on."

I threw some out, and in a short time the nest was lined. Then Robinflew off, returning the next day with his mate, who showed her delight atthe new home by cozily settling down in it.

Every morning the birds gave a concert above my window, and one


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day I heard some new notes, and, peeping out, saw that five little robinshad come to brighten the cozy nest. Such a busy time as the papa andmamma Redbreasts had now! Such a digging for worms to drop into thebig mouths which seemed to be always asking for food! In a few weeksthe baby birds learned to fly, and left the nest to make new homes and singtheir own sweet songs.

The old birds stayed on the Avenue awhile longer, but when the leavesput on their holiday dresses, and the flowers tied on their nightcaps andwent to sleep, the Redbreasts sang good-by to their friends and, spreadingtheir wings, flew away over the house tops toward the Sunny South.

Easter CarolThe world is filled with gladness; The bells of Easter ring; Each pure

white lily's waking, To welcome infant spring.Chorus.Oh, dear little children, listen, And hear what the glad bells say! The

sweetest chime they ever rang-- "Our Lord is risen to-day!"

II.

Birds are flying across the sky; Their songs ring through the air; Theycarol of the Father's love He shows us everywhere.

Chorus.Oh, dear little children, listen, And hear what the birdlings say! The

sweetest song they ever sang-- "Our Lord is risen to-day!"


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The Lily SistersOnce upon a time there were three little sisters dressed in green, who

lived together in a beautiful palace which was owned by a Great King.Such a beautiful palace as it was! The ceilings were made of turquoise andopal, and soft, velvety green carpets covered the floors.

Many other children lived with these little sisters, and they had such akind nurse called Dame Nature, who taught them how to do their workwell; for everybody had some work to do for the Great King.

Surely no one could be unhappy in such a wonderful home, and yet, I,am sorry to say, one of the little sisters was always discontented.

She knew, for Dame Nature had told her, that some day the Great Kingwould come to see who had done loving work for him, and would give thegood lilies beautiful white robes and golden crowns, but she was notwilling to wait until the King was ready and saw fit to do it.

When the Sunbeam children came to play, she would hang down herhead and sulk, and after a while they would leave her alone, and play withher sisters.

When Professor Rain's school was out, and the jolly little raindropscoaxed her to play with them, she would say crossly, "You am too rough,let me alone!" and they would go and play with the happy little sisters asthe sunbeams had done; for everybody loved the two good little lily sisters,who were sorry to see how naughty the other lily was.

But they tried to do their best to help her, and kept on growing.One day the Great King, who had seen how well they tried to do,

thought they deserved their robes and crowns, so he sent the sunbeamsdancing away to awaken the inhabitants of the palace for the crowning.

Away they went, peeping through the curtains, and flying into thewindows of the palace and waking all the little children with kisses.

Then they took off the old green dresses of the sisters, and put purewhite robes on them and gave them crowns of pure gold. The other littlesister wished then that she had tried to do right, and drooped until shefaded away.

Madam Wind and the Bird family gave a grand concert in Maple Tree


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Park. Everything was full of gladness, and the lily sisters held a receptionall day, and many people came to congratulate them upon being crowned.Among their visitors was wee Ruth, who kissed them and took them to alittle sick friend. He smiled as she pressed them into his hand, saying:"Take them, please, for Easter," and in her sweet child language she toldthe story of Easter, and of the wonderful work the Great King's Son did forthe people of the beautiful palace.


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Nature's Violet ChildrenOnce on a sunny hill in the woods grew a little colony of violets. They

had slept quietly through the long winter, tucked up snug and warm in thesoft, white snowblankets that King Winter had sent Mother Nature for herflower babies. Jack Frost had gone pouting over the hills because the littlesunbeams would not play with him, and spoiled his fancy pictures. Thetiny raindrops knocked at the door of Mother Nature's great, brown house;and the birds called to the flowers to wake up.

So the violets raised their strong, hardy leaves, lifted up their daintyheads, and were glad because spring had come. While they were so happy,a little girl came to the woods in search of wild flowers. "How pretty thoseviolets are," she said. "I wish I could stay and watch the buds open, but Iwill take some of them with me and keep them in water, and they willremind me of this sunny hill, and perhaps they will blossom."

Then the violets were frightened and whispered, "Please don't takeus!" But Ruth did not hear them, and she pulled stem after stem till hersmall hands were quite filled. Then she said good-by to the pretty place,and the little violets said good-by, too.

When Ruth got home, she put the buds into a vase of water, and setthem in an open window where they could see the blue sky and feel thekisses of the sunbeams. But the poor little violets drooped for a time, theywere so homesick, and whispered to each other, "Let us give up and die!"A beautiful canary in a cage over their heads sang "cheer up! chirrup,!" butthey would not listen to him at first.

By and by they said, "Why do you sing that to us? How can we behappy away from our beautiful home?"

Still the bird sang "cheer up! chirrup! The sun is smiling at you and Iam singing to you. We are trying to make you glad. How nice it would beif you would only blossom and make some one happy instead of hangingyour heads and trying to die. Do you think I like to be shut up here? Ifsome one would leave the door of my cage open, I would spread my wingsand fly out of the window, far away to the green woods and the blue sky.But while I am here, I may as well sing and be glad. Cheer up! chirrup!"


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"Perhaps he is right," said the buds, and they lifted up their heads andbegan to grow. One bright spring morning Mother Nature passed by thewindow and gave them each a lovely violet cap. Then they were, glad, andRuth was happy, too, because her buds had blossomed.

The cheery canary sang his sweetest carol to them, and the whole daywas bright because Mother Nature's little violet children had tried theirbest to be happy and so had made others happy, too.

As the great red sun went down into the west, he heard the happy birdstill singing "cheer up! chirrup!"


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Baby CaterpillarBaby Caterpillar was tired. All summer long she had been travelling

slowly through the green world where she lived, and feeding on the greenleaves that grew near her home., Now Autumn had come and MotherNature had given a holiday to the leaves, who put on their new dresses ofred and gold and played tag with the breezes. Baby Caterpillar wanted toplay, too, but could not run so fast as the happy little leaves, and she grewvery tired and thought she would take a nap. So she found a cozy placeamong the branches of a grape vine, and made herself a soft, silky blanket.Then she rolled herself away within it, and then, in her queer little cradle,went to sleep.

One night, late in the fall, Jack Frost came over the hill. He spied thecradle swinging to and fro, and began to play roughly with it, for he is aroguish little fellow, and touches everything that comes in his way. But thewarm blanket hid the little sleeper so that Jack could not find her.

By and by King Winter came, bringing beautiful snow blankets toMother Nature's flower babies. He gently rocked the cradle as he passed,and whispered, "Sleep, baby, sleep! You have no need of my blankets."

At last Spring came with the sunbeams, the best and merriest ofMother Nature's helpers. They awoke the flowers from their long winternap, and called to the birds and the brooks to begin their songs. When theycame to the little brown cradle, they stopped to rest, and Baby Caterpillarbegan to get very warm under the thick blanket. She woke up andstretched herself, and her cradle broke, and she came out to greet theSpring. But what a change! Instead of the old dingy dress that she went tosleep in, she now had a beautiful yellow one; and, instead of crawlingamong the leaves, she flew up and away into the sweet spring air to playwith the sunbeams and flowers; and the little children called her abutterfly.


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Five Little Indian BrothersOnce there were five little brothers living in Farmer Lane's barn. There

were a great many other children there, too, but these little brothers playedby themselves, and chased each other across the wide floor of the barnuntil they reached a corner where there was a large crack, and then theycould look out into the world. The first thing they saw was Farmer Lanebreaking up the rich brown earth with his plough, for Spring hadcome, andtold him it was time to do his planting, while the little brothers werewatching him, and wishing they could find a way to roll out into the brightsunshine and help him, something happened. What do you suppose it was?

A great brown hand came up behind them and in a moment they foundthemselves in a wooden measure with many more of their friends. "Whatis the matter?" said one little brother. "I don't know," said another. "Maybewe are going to travel," said a third; while the two smallest cuddled veryclosely together, and whispered, "We won't be afraid; God will take careof us."

The measure was taken, out into the field, where Farmer Lane was stillat work, and soon, into the furrows made by the plow, the little brotherswere dropped one by one. They lay very still at first. It was so strange anddark in their new home. By and by they found a friend, an earth-worm,who told them wonderful stories, how God would take care of them, andsome day would give them a new life. Then the little brothers were gladand hoped it would be soon. Thus the days went by. The warm springshowers moistened the earth, and the sun shone so brightly that thebrothers danced for joy way down in their dark home. What do yousuppose happened when they danced? Why, their old coats split open, andsome little hands came out. They were helpful hands, too, and went towork at once. Some of them went down into the earth to find food andwater for the whole plants, and the others reached upward to the air andsunshine, and spread out beautiful, long green leaves.

Each day the plants grew taller and taller, and new buds came thatblossomed into flowery tassels that waved over the tops of the plants.These tassels were fall of a golden dust called pollen, and as the wind


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blew it to and fro, some of the tiny grains found little green cradles alongthe sides of the plants, and crept into them. There they stayed, growingstrong and round, until one midsummer day the plants were full of ripe,sweet ears of corn.

When were the five little brothers, do you ask? Why, they were fivelittle kernels of Indian corn that Farmer Lane planted one spring morning,and each beautiful stalk of corn was the new life the earth-worm told themabout. God had taken care of them, and takes care of of His little children,too.


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Buttercup GoldDid you ever hear of the pot of gold hidden at the end of the rainbow?

Some people think it is there now, but they are mistaken, for a long timeago somebody found it. How he happened to find it, nobody knows, for agreat many people have searched in vain, and have never even been ableto discover that the rainbow has any ends at all. The man who found it wasvery selfish and did not want anybody to know, for fear they might wantsome of his money. So one night he put it in a bag, which he slung overhis shoulder, and walked across the fields toward a thick wood where hemeant to hide it.

In the bag was something beside the gold--something so small that thegreedy man in his hurry had not noticed it. It was a hole, and, as he walkedon, one by one the gold coins fell out into the grass. When he reached thewood and found all of his money gone, he hurried back to search for it, butsomething strange had happened. It was a midsummer night, and thefairies were having a dance out in the meadows. They were good, lovinglittle people, and despised selfishness above everything. One little fairyspied the glittering gold among the grasses. She had seen the greedy manpassing by, and knew he would soon be back to hunt for his treasure. "Itwill do him no good," she said, "if he hides it away, and neither will it helpanybody else. I will change it into something that will give joy to rich andpoor."

When the greedy man reached the meadow he could see no goldmoney, but in its place were bright, yellow flowers--buttercup gold for thechildren.


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The RaindropsUp above us, near the Sky Country, in a place called Cloudland, live a

great many little people, called raindrops. They are very helpful, andalways try to do their best, because they know the great King of Cloudlandhas work for them all. One morning two tiny raindrops were sittingtogether looking down at Earthdom. "How dusty and hot everythinglooks," said one drop. "Yes," replied the other, "let us go down and seehow much good we can do in Earthdom to-day." So these two littleraindrops called their brothers and sisters and told of their plan, and askedthem to go, too, for they always wanted to share their good time withothers. "Let's have a game of tag, and see who will reach the top of thathill first," said one little drop, and away they scampered. They ran so fastthat they reached Earthdom at about the same time, and how glad MotherNature was to see them. Some of them went at once to visit the flowers,and whispered such sweet words to the tired, dusty blossoms, that theyraised their heads again, and thanked the raindrops for the comfort theyhad brought. Some of them slid down the slanting roofs of houses andfilled the wells. Our two little raindrops with five others, went down intothe brown earth and cheered up the roots. Then they travelled on, and byand by they came out again further down the hill, and made a beautifulspring, around which little children played. The spring soon helped make abrook, that flowed down over the hillsides, winding in and out among therocks, washing them smooth and round, singing as it rippled on its way.

By and by it met some more brooks and they made a stream. Thesunbeams loved the clear stream and danced to and fro over its surface, asit rushed joyously onward, turning the busy mill wheels, and keeping thegrass and flowers alive and beautiful. Sometimes weary travellers walkedalong its banks, and stooped and quenched their thirst with its pure, coolwater. While the stream journeyed on, it met other streams and they madea rivulet, and by and by the rivulet heard a low voice calling, "Come withme and I will show you the mightiest of waters." So the rivulet joined theriver, and together they travelled on till they heard the deep voice of theocean welcoming them to its cave.


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Where were the little raindrops that left Cloudland early in themorning? They were playing among the ocean waves, and helping to rockthe ships that sailed over the waters. At sunset a vapor-boat carried thedrops back home and in the eastern sky they stood with robes of red,orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, and made a bright bow ofpromise.

As they looked down upon Earthdom once more, everything was fresh,and sweet, and glad, because the little raindrops had done so much to helpothers, and had left no part of their work undone. The night shadows came,and the rainbow faded slowly away, leaving a message for the children ofEarthdom. "Do your best, little children, and big children, too, for God haswork for all."

GloriesLaura was tired of playing with her dolls, and tired of taking care of

Baby Donald, too, he was such a big baby, and she was a little girl for nineyears old. So as soon as nap time came, and baby was at last quiet, Laurawent out on the porch and cuddled down in the hammock, where sheswung to and fro, wishing there was something nice to do, or some newkinds of dolls to play with. All at once she thought she heard a faint voicesay, "What a queer child! Here she is wishing for some new plaything, andhas never noticed us. She must be blind, poor child! for every morning weput on our prettiest dresses and smile at her; but she always passes us by."

"Yes," replied another voice, "when she came out here to lie down inthe hammock, I brushed her hair softly and left a kiss on her forehead; butshe shook me off as if I were a bee trying to sting her."

Laura sat up, rubbed her eyes, and looked around in surprise. Hadsome one really spoken, or had she only fallen asleep and dreamed it all?

She could see nothing except the morning glories which covered theside of the porch. There seemed to be hundreds of them, blue, white, pink,and violet; and how wide awake they looked! "It must have been the'glories' talking," said Laura, "but I didn't know glories could talk. Can you,dear glories?"

The flowers nodded, as if they understood what she said."What pretty colors! I never half noticed them before," went on Laura,


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"and wouldn't that blue one make a lovely dress?"Just then wee Donald, fresh from his nap, came toddling out through

the open door, and stretched his little fat hands to the glories. "Baby wantsa trumpet," he cried.

Laura laughed aloud as she said: "Why, they do look like trumpets,and like parasols, too;" and she gathered a handful of the blossoms andsprinkled the porch with their brightness. "Let's play with them, baby; seeif we can make some dolls; " and Laura stood a glory on the step, and intothe tiny hole stuck the yellow center of a daisy, whose petals she hadpulled out. On this center she marked eyes, nose, and mouth; and when asmall glory was added for a bonnet, what a pretty flower doll she had, witha pink skirt, green waist, and white bonnet! Then a whole family of glorieswere made, and Laura gave them each a parasol to carry.

Baby used his glories for tents, and they had a good time playing, andLaura wished she had noticed the glories more before.

By and by, when the day was over, and Laura sat again in thehammock, watching the sleeping glories, she said: "I wonder if the gloriescould have been talking this morning; "and one little sleepy bud looked asif it could tell if it chose. But Mamma put her arm about the little girl andsaid, "I think it was a dream, dear. But if the flowers could speak I thinkthey would tell my darling that by using her eyes more, she will find outhow much there is that is beautiful, and God made them all for us to enjoy,because he loves us. Every flower that blooms its sweetest, and everychild who tries to be good, is a precious part of our Heavenly Father'sglories."


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A Fall SongGolden and red trees Nod to the soft breeze, As it whispers, "Winter is

near;" And the brown nuts fall At the wind's loud call, For this is the Fallof the year.

Good-by, sweet flowers! Through bright Summer hours You havefilled our hearts with cheer We shall miss you so, And yet you must go,For this is the Fall of the year.

Now the days grow cold, As the year grows old, And the meadows arebrown and sere; Brave robin redbreast Has gone from his nest, For this isthe Fall of the year.

I do softly pray At the close of day, That the little children, so dear,May as purely grow As the fleecy snow That follows the Fall of the year.


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The Babies' Blankets"Such a cold day," sighed Mother Nature, "and no blankets to keep my

babies warm! Little Jack Frost came over the hill last night, and whatmischief the boy is planning to do now, it is hard to tell. He is such ahappy little fellow, but is always up to some prank. If Father Winter doesnot send me some blankets soon, I fear Jack will pinch my babies' toes,and pull their ears, and make them shiver till they am ready to freeze. Ihave put them to bed and told them to keep quiet, and perhaps Jack willnot see them."

"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed a tinkling voice right at the dear old lady'selbow. "Some of your children did not mind you. Early this morning Ifound one of them whispering to a sunbeam, and under the hedge found atiny blue aster. I shook her till she was so cold she was glad to go back tobed again. Ha! ha! ha!" and Jack gave Mother Nature such a hug that sheshivered, and murmured: "Poor babies! I must write a letter to FatherWinter."

This is what the letter said:Earthdom, November 1, 1893.Dear Father Winter:--Have you any warm blankets for my babies? The

season is coming when they should take a long, long nap, and Jack is up tohis tricks again. Please send me some blankets soon.

From your old friend,Mother Nature.This letter she directed toKing Winter, The Polar Regions, Cloud-dom.Then she called her messenger, Autumn Wind, and sent him northward

with her message. King Winter was seated on his throne at the back of theNorth Wind, planning his coming work in Earthdom, when Autumn Windarrived with the letter.

"Deary me! deary me!" said the king, "has Jack Frost gone to botherMother Nature? I meant he should wait for me this year. But somethingmust be done. Ho! Snowflake, come here, and bring your sisters andbrothers with you."


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In a few moments a troop of dainty beings clothed in white camedancing along. "What do you wish, Father Winter?" they asked.

"Mother Nature has need of you, my helpers," replied the king. "Youmust, stop the next passing cloud, and go down to Earthdom, and cover upthe babies. Jack is there, and they are freezing."

Just then a golden-edged cloud floated by, and the snowflakes huddledtogether on it and were soon travelling earthward. The sun was setting asthey passed the western gate of the city, and the cloud was tinged with redand gold. By and by it began to grow dark, and the little cloud grew largerand larger, and before long the night came. In the morning the littlechildren of Earthdom were surprised to see a white covering over the land.

"See the snow, the beautiful. snow" they cried; and the sleds werebrought out, and such a merry time as they had playing in the white drifts!But I wonder if any of them knew what the snow really came for, and howglad dear Mother Nature was because her babies were sleeping safe andwarm under the downy snowflake blankets.


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The First ChristmasOnce there lay a little baby Sleeping in the fragrant hay, And this

lovely infant stranger Brought our first glad Christmas day.Shepherds on the hillside, watching Over wandering flocks at night,

Heard a strange, sweet strain of music, Saw a clear and heavenly light.Listened to the angels' story:-- How, in David's town so still, Slept the

infant King of Glory, Dreaming of sweet peace, good will.And a star of radiant splendor Led them where the baby lay, Lowly

cradled in a manger, On that far-off Christmas day.Though that day was long ago, Every child throughout the earth Loves

to hear each year the story Of the gentle Christ Child's birth.And they seem to see the beauty Of the eastern star again; And repeat

the angels' chorus: "Peace on earth, good will to men."


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The Christmas StarLong, long ago, in the blue sky above the hills of Bethlehem, twinkled

the stars. Very early in the morning they would sing together and wouldtell each other of what they had seen during the long night.

They used to watch the shepherds guarding their flocks upon thehillsides, and one bright evening star that looked down upon the earthearlier than the others, would tell stories of little children whispering theirprayers at the twilight hour. One wintry night a new star came to visit theother stars. It was so radiant that its rays shone upon the gray hills andmade them light as day. It had come on a wonderful errand. The shepherdssaw it and were frightened at its strange brightness; but an angel came tothem and said: "Do not be afraid; the star has come to bring you good,tidings of great joy, and to show you the place where a little babe is born,--a little babe whose name is Jesus, and who will give peace and joy to thewhole world."

Then the shepherds heard some singing,--beautiful singing, for a greatmany angels had come to tell the good news; and the star grew larger andbrighter, it was so glad. When the angels had gone back to Heaven, theshepherds said, "Let us go and see this child." So they left their flockssleeping on the hillsides, and took their crooks in their hands and followedthe star, which travelled on and on till it led them to the little stable inBethlehem, when the Baby Jesus was cradled in a manger. Then the starmoved on again to a country far away, where some good, wise men lived.They saw the bright light, and noticed the star moving on and on, as if itwere showing them the way to go. So they, too, followed the star till itrested above the birthplace of Jesus. Then the wise men went in and gavetheir best gifts to the baby, and they and the shepherds knelt and thankedGod for sending the little Christ Child to be the best Christmas present thegreat world ever had. The star watched over them, casting a peaceful lightover all. At last the dawn came over the hill tops, and the star went away,far back into the blue heavens, to tell the other stars the story of our firstglad Christmas day.


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Love's GardenThere is a quiet garden, From the rude world set apart, Where seeds

for Christ are growing; This is the loving heart.The tiny roots are loving thoughts; Sweet words, the fragrant flowers

Which blossom into loving deeds,-- Ripe fruits for harvest hours.Thus in our hearts the seeds of love Am growing year by year; And we

show our love for the Saviour, By loving His children here.

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Buttercup_Gold_and_Other_Stories