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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/1978-h.zip b/1978-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8f8dd78 --- /dev/null +++ b/1978-h.zip diff --git a/1978-h/1978-h.htm b/1978-h/1978-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cfca2ad --- /dev/null +++ b/1978-h/1978-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1669 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + Buttercup Gold and Other Stories, by Ellen Robena Field + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +Project Gutenberg's Buttercup Gold and Other Stories, by Ellen Robena Field + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Buttercup Gold and Other Stories + +Author: Ellen Robena Field + +Release Date: September 21, 2008 [EBook #1978] +Last Updated: January 26, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES *** + + + + +Produced by Dianne Bean, and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Ellen Robena Field + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h4> + Copyrighted, 1894, by the Bangor (Maine) Kindergarten Association <br /> + <br /> This book is lovingly dedicated to the dear kindergarten<br /> + children, and particularly to my little friend, Alice Caro Wing. <br /> + <br /> "Children are God's apostles, day by day sent forth preach of<br /> + love and hope and peace."—Lowell. + </h4> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Come to me, O, ye children! + And whisper in my ear + What the birds and winds are singing + In your sunny atmosphere. + + Ye are better than all the ballads + That were ever sung or said; + For ye are living poems + And all the rest are dead."—Longfellow. +</pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "And Nature, the old nurse, took + The child upon her knee, + Saying: 'Here is a story-book + Thy Father has written for thee."—Longfellow. +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> The Little New Year </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> Mother Nature's House Cleaning </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> How the Raindrops and Sunbeams Helped </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> Rock-A-By Baby </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> A Child of Spring </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> Mr. Frog's Story </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> The Robin </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> Easter Carol </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> The Lily Sisters </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> Nature's Violet Children </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> Baby Caterpillar </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> Five Little Indian Brothers </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> Buttercup Gold </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> The Raindrops </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> A Fall Song </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> The Babies' Blankets </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> The First Christmas </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> The Christmas Star </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> Love's Garden </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + The Little New Year + </h2> + <p> + One 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 the moon + was shining brightly, Jack Frost had been so busily at work that Maurice + could not see through the thickly painted panes. So he crept sleepily out + of bed, and opened the window, and whispered: "Who is there?" + </p> + <p> + "I am," replied a tinkling voice. "I am the little New Year, ho! ho! And + I've promised to bring a blessing to everyone. But I am such a little + fellow I need somebody to help me distribute them. Won't you please come + out and help?" + </p> + <p> + "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 + chin with one of the frosty paint brushes. + </p> + <p> + "Never mind the cold," urged the New Year; "please help me." + </p> + <p> + 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 a large + cart which seemed to be loaded with good things. On one side of this cart + was painted the word "Love," and on the other "Kindness." As soon as the + New Year saw Maurice he said, "Now please take hold and help me pull;" and + down the driveway and up the hill they travelled until they came to an old + shanty. + </p> + <p> + "Here is where I make my first call," said the New Year. Maurice looked + wonderingly at him. "Why, nobody lives here but an old colored man 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 as children + do. You shovel out a path to his door, while I unload some of my + blessings; and the little hands went busily at work, piling up warm + clothing, wood, and a new year's dinner, the New Year singing as he + worked:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Oh, I am the little New Year; ho! ho! + Here I come tripping it over the snow, + Shaking my bells with a merry din; + So open your door and let me in." +</pre> + <p> + Old Joe, hearing some noise outside, came to the door, and when he saw all + the nice gifts the tears ran down his cheeks for gladness; and as he + carried them into the house, he whispered: "The dear Lord has been here + to-night." + </p> + <p> + "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. + </p> + <p> + 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 know she was + sick." "See," said the New Year, "this window is open a little; let us + throw this bunch of pinks into the room. They will please her when she + wakes, and will make her happy for several days." + </p> + <p> + Then they hurried to other places, leaving some blessing behind them. + </p> + <p> + "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 to love and + be kind to, my cart is full of blessings for them; and it will never grow + empty until I can no longer find people to help. If you will go with me + every day and help me scatter my blessings, you will see how happy you + will be all the long year." + </p> + <p> + "A happy New Year!" called some one; and Maurice found himself in bed, and + his sister standing in the doorway smiling at him. "Have you had a + pleasant dream, dear?" she asked. + </p> + <p> + "Why, where is the little New Year?" said Maurice; "he was just here with + me." + </p> + <p> + "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 baby brother, the + gift of the New Year. How happy Maurice was then! But he did not forget + his dream. Old Joe and Bessie had their gifts, too, and Maurice tried so + hard to be helpful that he made all his friends glad because the happy New + Year had come. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Mother Nature's House Cleaning + </h2> + <p> + One 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 his home + at the North Pole; and Spring was coming over the hill with her three + little helpers to make Mother Nature a visit. + </p> + <p> + Let us see who these helpers were. First there was roguish March with his + rosy cheeks, and his curly hair flying in the winds that blew all about + him. Next came Baby April with her apron full of violets, daffodillies, + and green grasses. Part of the time she smiled sweetly, and part of it she + frowned till the big tear drops chased each other down her cheeks. Last + came May, playing tag with the sunbeams, wandering knee-deep in flowers, + and calling to the birds that sang around her: + </p> + <p> + Mother Nature watched them coming and murmured, "Such a dirty world as + King Winter has left behind him! It must be cleaned up before the little + girls, April and May, come, but March I am sure will want to help me do + it." + </p> + <p> + She beckoned to the frolicsome boy who came racing down the hill to see + what she wanted. "I must have some rain to wash away all this dirty snow," + she said; so March whistled to the East Wind, who blew together the + rain-clouds, and soon the tiny rain drops were busy at work washing the + floors of the world, and in a short time the snow was all gone. Then + Mother Nature wanted the sky ceilings cleaned, so this time March whistled + to the West Wind who began to sweep away the cloud cobwebs from the sky + till the cheery old sun smiled again, and shone Mother Nature a bright + "good morning." + </p> + <p> + "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 South Wind 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. + </p> + <p> + When his visit was over Mother Nature thanked him for helping her so well + on all of the thirty-one days he had spent with her, and told him she + would send for him again when her next cleaning day came around. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + How the Raindrops and Sunbeams Helped + </h2> + <p> + One morning Mother Nature looked about her, and said: "My children have + had such a nice long rest and it will do them good, for they have a busy + summer before them. It is time to go to work now, and as some of the + babies just won't wake up till they have to, I must send for my helpers at + once." The long days carried her messages, which in our language would + have read something like this:— + </p> + <p> + My Dear Helpers, Sunbeams, and Raindrops:— + </p> + <p> + You are needed down here on earth. It is time to dress my plant children, + and give them work to do. The birds must be called back from the South, + and the cocooons must be opened so that my butterflies can come out. I + shall have to make good soil and get my clover beds ready for the honey + makers. Come at once, as some have been sleeping too long already. 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. + </p> + <p> + Good-bye, from your Mother Nature + </p> + <p> + This she directed to the Sunbeams at Blue Sky Park, and the Raindrops at + Cloud Land. When the message reached these little helpers, they started + off at once to obey the call, and the sun gave such a merry laugh, that + Grandma came to the door of the farm house and remarked: "How warm it is + today, quite like spring; I believe I will set out my geraniums." But just + then a silvery voice said: "Wait a little while longer till we make the + ground soft," and pop came a raindrop upon the dear old lady's nose, and + she hurried into the house, saying "What queer weather we are having! + first sun and then rain." Then the Raindrops and Sunbeams smiled at each + other, and danced more merrily, for they knew what good work they were + doing to the great brown house where the flowers dwell. + </p> + <p> + The tap, tap, of the Raindrops wake them up, and when they raised their + sleepy heads and felt the warm kisses of the Sunbeams, they were glad and + began to grow. Soft breezes called to the leaves to come out, and soon the + brown coats which the trees had worn all winter were replaced by new green + dresses. Pussy willow and snowdrop were the first to herald the spring, + and crocus and violet soon followed. Out in the woods blossomed tiny pink + and white May flowers. Little seeds burst off their jackets and sent up + green plumes. Then Mother Nature called her helpers again and told 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 helpers had + done their work well, and were happy—and every one thanked God for + the spring. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Rock-A-By Baby + </h2> + <p> + "Rock-a-by baby in the tree top, When the wind blows the cradle will + rock." + </p> + <p> + 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 + of doors again, and to rock her babies to sleep on one of the low + branches. + </p> + <p> + But she was not the only one singing a lullaby that bright sunny morning, + for Mother Nature was singing one, too, and a soft breeze was gently + tucking some little brown cradles to and fro in the tree tops. Some were + very, very small, and others were larger, but each held a wee leaf baby, + fast asleep. The next time Helena came out to play, the babies in the + treetop were waking up, and she could see them in their dainty green + nightdresses, peeping out at the world. During the next week they grew a + great deal, and one of them crept out of their cradles which fell down to + the ground, leaving the babies still up in the tree top. + </p> + <p> + By the time Spring went away, the babies had grown large and strong, and + spread beautiful green parasols to give shade to their friends through the + hot, dusty days of summer. When Autumn came, Mother Nature gave them a + holiday, and how pretty they looked in their gay gowns as they frolicked + with the wind! + </p> + <p> + Then they said good-by to the Maple tree, and went dancing and whirling + over the fields to meet King Winter. When Helena looked into their old + homes on the tree, she found some more tiny brown cradles, and knew that + in them were new leaf babies that sleep safely til Spring comes again to + visit Earthdom, and wakes each "baby in the tree top." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + A Child of Spring + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + I 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, + The snow-drops, pure and white, + Timid blue-eyed violets, + And daffodillies bright. + + She loves dear Mother Nature, + And wanders by her side; + She beckons to the birdlings + That flock from far and wide. + She wakes the baby brooklets, + Soft breezes hear her call; + She tells the little children + The sweetest tales of all. + + Her brow is sometimes clouded, + And she sighs with gentle grace, + Till the sunbeams, daring lovers, + Kiss the teardrops from her face. + Well we know this dainty maiden, + For April is her name; + And we welcome her with gladness, + As the springtime comes again. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Mr. Frog's Story + </h2> + <p> + Down in the garden is a pretty brook, and something funny happened one day + as I was sitting watching the tadpoles and minnows playing tag and + hide-and-go-seek. All at once something gave a jump out of the water and + 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 replied politely and + inquired for his health. + </p> + <p> + He assured me that he was well and happy, and went on talking. "Did you + know that I was once a tadpole just like those little creatures in the + brook? + </p> + <p> + "I have heard people say that you were," I answered. "You would not + believe it to look at me now, would you?" + </p> + <p> + "No," I said, for certainly he did not look at all like the queer little + animals I was watching. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," he continued, "once I was a tiny black egg in a globe of clear + white jelly, and floated around along the bank of this same brook. Soon I + grew into a wee tadpole, and freed myself from the globe of jelly, and + found I could swim about. I had a long flat tail which I used as a paddle + to help me swim. I had no feet nor legs then, but I grew very fast, and + soon two legs came out near my tail, and by and by two front ones came, + and I did not need my tail any more, so it disappeared. Then I discovered + that I had a long, slender tongue to catch insects with. My skin, too, had + changed, and is now covered with beautiful spots, and if you look at my + eyes you will see how bright they are. + </p> + <p> + "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 tadpole children, + and tell them of the time when they, too, will grow up and be toads and + frogs." + </p> + <p> + Here Mr. Frog paused, and before I could thank him for his interesting + story, he gave a loud "kadunk," which means "good-by," and with a splash + he was off for a swim in the brook. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + The Robin + </h2> + <p> + One day, while walking home from the Kindergarten, I met some travellers + coming 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 them say, "How + do you do? We are glad to see you again. Are there plenty of houses to + rent this Spring? You will have a great many more visitors by and by, for + our friends are coming North as soon as the weather gets a little warmer." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," I replied, "some of the houses you occupied last spring are waiting + for you, and you will find pleasant places on which to build new ones in + Crab Apple Lane, Woodbine Walk, Maple Park, and Apple Tree Avenue." + </p> + <p> + "Thank you," they called, and hurried on, leaving me to wonder what sort + of a journey they had. All day long I saw them flying to and fro, carrying + loads of straw and mud. + </p> + <p> + 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 be + there," he chirped; "and if you will look out a minute, I'll show you my + house." + </p> + <p> + Sure enough, there was a tiny home on Apple tree Avenue, just at the + corner of Branch Alley. There was a cellar of mud, and the rest of the + cottage was neatly woven of straw. "How do you like it?" he chirped. + </p> + <p> + Of course I admired it, and asked him if he was all ready to go to + housekeeping. "All but the beds," he replied, "but if you will give me + some hair and a few feathers, I will soon have a soft place for our eggs + to rest on." + </p> + <p> + I threw some out, and in a short time the nest was lined. Then Robin flew + off, returning the next day with his mate, who showed her delight at the + new home by cozily settling down in it. + </p> + <p> + Every morning the birds gave a concert above my window, and one day I + heard some new notes, and, peeping out, saw that five little robins had + come to brighten the cozy nest. Such a busy time as the papa and mamma + Redbreasts had now! Such a digging for worms to drop into the big mouths + which seemed to be always asking for food! In a few weeks the baby birds + learned to fly, and left the nest to make new homes and sing their own + sweet songs. + </p> + <p> + The old birds stayed on the Avenue awhile longer, but when the leaves put + on their holiday dresses, and the flowers tied on their nightcaps and went + to sleep, the Redbreasts sang good-by to their friends and, spreading + their wings, flew away over the house tops toward the Sunny South. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Easter Carol + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The 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; + They carol 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!" +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + The Lily Sisters + </h2> + <p> + Once 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 and + opal, and soft, velvety green carpets covered the floors. + </p> + <p> + Many other children lived with these little sisters, and they had such a + kind nurse called Dame Nature, who taught them how to do their work well; + for everybody had some work to do for the Great King. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + She knew, for Dame Nature had told her, that some day the Great King would + come to see who had done loving work for him, and would give the good + lilies beautiful white robes and golden crowns, but she was not willing to + wait until the King was ready and saw fit to do it. + </p> + <p> + When the Sunbeam children came to play, she would hang down her head and + sulk, and after a while they would leave her alone, and play with her + sisters. + </p> + <p> + When Professor Rain's school was out, and the jolly little raindrops + coaxed 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 as + the sunbeams had done; for everybody loved the two good little lily + sisters, who were sorry to see how naughty the other lily was. + </p> + <p> + But they tried to do their best to help her, and kept on growing. + </p> + <p> + 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 sunbeams dancing away + to awaken the inhabitants of the palace for the crowning. + </p> + <p> + Away they went, peeping through the curtains, and flying into the windows + of the palace and waking all the little children with kisses. + </p> + <p> + Then they took off the old green dresses of the sisters, and put pure + white robes on them and gave them crowns of pure gold. The other little + sister wished then that she had tried to do right, and drooped until she + faded away. + </p> + <p> + Madam Wind and the Bird family gave a grand concert in Maple Tree Park. + Everything was full of gladness, and the lily sisters held a reception all + day, and many people came to congratulate them upon being crowned. Among + their visitors was wee Ruth, who kissed them and took them to a little + sick friend. He smiled as she pressed them into his hand, saying: "Take + them, please, for Easter," and in her sweet child language she told the + story of Easter, and of the wonderful work the Great King's Son did for + the people of the beautiful palace. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Nature's Violet Children + </h2> + <p> + Once 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 the + soft, white snow-blankets that King Winter had sent Mother Nature for her + flower babies. Jack Frost had gone pouting over the hills because the + little sunbeams would not play with him, and spoiled his fancy pictures. + The tiny raindrops knocked at the door of Mother Nature's great, brown + house; and the birds called to the flowers to wake up. + </p> + <p> + So the violets raised their strong, hardy leaves, lifted up their dainty + heads, 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 those + violets are," she said. "I wish I could stay and watch the buds open, but + I will take some of them with me and keep them in water, and they will + remind me of this sunny hill, and perhaps they will blossom." + </p> + <p> + Then the violets were frightened and whispered, "Please don't take us!" + But Ruth did not hear them, and she pulled stem after stem till her small + hands were quite filled. Then she said good-by to the pretty place, and + the little violets said good-by, too. + </p> + <p> + When Ruth got home, she put the buds into a vase of water, and set them in + an open window where they could see the blue sky and feel the kisses of + the sunbeams. But the poor little violets drooped for a time, they were 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!" but + they would not listen to him at first. + </p> + <p> + By and by they said, "Why do you sing that to us? How can we be happy away + from our beautiful home?" + </p> + <p> + Still the bird sang "cheer up! chirrup! The sun is smiling at you and I am + singing to you. We are trying to make you glad. How nice it would be if + you would only blossom and make some one happy instead of hanging your + heads and trying to die. Do you think I like to be shut up here? If some + one would leave the door of my cage open, I would spread my wings and 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!" + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps he is right," said the buds, and they lifted up their heads and + began to grow. One bright spring morning Mother Nature passed by the + window and gave them each a lovely violet cap. Then they were, glad, and + Ruth was happy, too, because her buds had blossomed. + </p> + <p> + The cheery canary sang his sweetest carol to them, and the whole day was + bright because Mother Nature's little violet children had tried their best + to be happy and so had made others happy, too. + </p> + <p> + As the great red sun went down into the west, he heard the happy bird + still singing "cheer up! chirrup!" + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Baby Caterpillar + </h2> + <p> + Baby Caterpillar was tired. All summer long she had been travelling slowly + through the green world where she lived, and feeding on the green leaves + that grew near her home. Now Autumn had come and Mother Nature had given a + holiday to the leaves, who put on their new dresses of red and gold and + played tag with the breezes. Baby Caterpillar wanted to play, too, but + could not run so fast as the happy little leaves, and she grew very tired + and thought she would take a nap. So she found a cozy place among 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. + </p> + <p> + One night, late in the fall, Jack Frost came over the hill. He spied the + cradle swinging to and fro, and began to play roughly with it, for he is a + roguish little fellow, and touches everything that comes in his way. But + the warm blanket hid the little sleeper so that Jack could not find her. + </p> + <p> + By and by King Winter came, bringing beautiful snow blankets to Mother + Nature's flower babies. He gently rocked the cradle as he passed, and + whispered, "Sleep, baby, sleep! You have no need of my blankets." + </p> + <p> + At last Spring came with the sunbeams, the best and merriest of Mother + Nature's helpers. They awoke the flowers from their long winter nap, and + called to the birds and the brooks to begin their songs. When they came to + the little brown cradle, they stopped to rest, and Baby Caterpillar began + to get very warm under the thick blanket. She woke up and stretched + herself, and her cradle broke, and she came out to greet the Spring. But + what a change! Instead of the old dingy dress that she went to sleep in, + she now had a beautiful yellow one; and, instead of crawling among the + leaves, she flew up and away into the sweet spring air to play with the + sunbeams and flowers; and the little children called her a butterfly. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Five Little Indian Brothers + </h2> + <p> + Once there were five little brothers living in Farmer Lane's barn. There + were a great many other children there, too, but these little brothers + played by themselves, and chased each other across the wide floor of the + barn until they reached a corner where there was a large crack, and then + they could look out into the world. The first thing they saw was Farmer + Lane breaking up the rich brown earth with his plough, for Spring had + come, and told him it was time to do his planting, while the little + brothers were watching him, and wishing they could find a way to roll out + into the bright sunshine and help him, something happened. What do you + suppose it was? + </p> + <p> + A great brown hand came up behind them and in a moment they found + themselves in a wooden measure with many more of their friends. "What is + the matter?" said one little brother. "I don't know," said another. "Maybe + we are going to travel," said a third; while the two smallest cuddled very + closely together, and whispered, "We won't be afraid; God will take care + of us." + </p> + <p> + The measure was taken, out into the field, where Farmer Lane was still at + work, and soon, into the furrows made by the plow, the little brothers + were dropped one by one. They lay very still at first. It was so strange + and dark 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, and some + day would give them a new life. Then the little brothers were glad and + hoped it would be soon. Thus the days went by. The warm spring showers + moistened the earth, and the sun shone so brightly that the brothers + danced for joy way down in their dark home. What do you suppose happened + when they danced? Why, their old coats split open, and some little hands + came out. They were helpful hands, too, and went to work at once. Some of + them went down into the earth to find food and water for the whole plants, + and the others reached upward to the air and sunshine, and spread out + beautiful, long green leaves. + </p> + <p> + Each day the plants grew taller and taller, and new buds came that + blossomed 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 + blew it to and fro, some of the tiny grains found little green cradles + along the sides of the plants, and crept into them. There they stayed, + growing strong and round, until one midsummer day the plants were full of + ripe, sweet ears of corn. + </p> + <p> + When were the five little brothers, do you ask? Why, they were five little + 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 them + about. God had taken care of them, and takes care of of His little + children, too. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Buttercup Gold + </h2> + <p> + Did 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 time + ago somebody found it. How he happened to find it, nobody knows, for a + great many people have searched in vain, and have never even been able to + discover that the rainbow has any ends at all. The man who found it was + very selfish and did not want anybody to know, for fear they might want + some of his money. So one night he put it in a bag, which he slung over + his shoulder, and walked across the fields toward a thick wood where he + meant to hide it. + </p> + <p> + In the bag was something beside the gold—something so small that the + greedy man in his hurry had not noticed it. It was a hole, and, as he + walked on, one by one the gold coins fell out into the grass. When he + reached the wood and found all of his money gone, he hurried back to + search for it, but something strange had happened. It was a midsummer + night, and the fairies were having a dance out in the meadows. They were + good, loving little people, and despised selfishness above everything. One + little fairy spied the glittering gold among the grasses. She had seen the + greedy man passing by, and knew he would soon be back to hunt for his + treasure. "It will do him no good," she said, "if he hides it away, and + neither will it help anybody else. I will change it into something that + will give joy to rich and poor." + </p> + <p> + When the greedy man reached the meadow he could see no gold money, but in + its place were bright, yellow flowers—buttercup gold for the + children. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + The Raindrops + </h2> + <p> + Up above us, near the Sky Country, in a place called Cloudland, live a + great many little people, called raindrops. They are very helpful, and + always try to do their best, because they know the great King of Cloudland + has work for them all. One morning two tiny raindrops were sitting + together looking down at Earthdom. "How dusty and hot everything looks," + said one drop. "Yes," replied the other, "let us go down and see how much + good we can do in Earthdom to-day." So these two little raindrops called + their brothers and sisters and told of their plan, and asked them to go, + too, for they always wanted to share their good time with others. "Let's + have a game of tag, and see who will reach the top of that hill first," + said one little drop, and away they scampered. They ran so fast that they + reached Earthdom at about the same time, and how glad Mother Nature 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 they raised their + heads again, and thanked the raindrops for the comfort they had brought. + Some of them slid down the slanting roofs of houses and filled the wells. + Our two little raindrops with five others, went down into the brown earth + and cheered up the roots. Then they travelled on, and by and by they came + out again further down the hill, and made a beautiful spring, around which + little children played. The spring soon helped make a brook, that flowed + down over the hillsides, winding in and out among the rocks, washing them + smooth and round, singing as it rippled on its way. + </p> + <p> + By and by it met some more brooks and they made a stream. The sunbeams + loved the clear stream and danced to and fro over its surface, as it + rushed joyously onward, turning the busy mill wheels, and keeping the + grass and flowers alive and beautiful. Sometimes weary travellers walked + along its banks, and stooped and quenched their thirst with its pure, cool + water. While the stream journeyed on, it met other streams and they made a + rivulet, and by and by the rivulet heard a low voice calling, "Come with + me and I will show you the mightiest of waters." So the rivulet joined the + river, and together they travelled on till they heard the deep voice of + the ocean welcoming them to its cave. + </p> + <p> + Where were the little raindrops that left Cloudland early in the morning? + They were playing among the ocean waves, and helping to rock the ships + that sailed over the waters. At sunset a vapor-boat carried the drops 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 of promise. + </p> + <p> + As they looked down upon Earthdom once more, everything was fresh, and + sweet, and glad, because the little raindrops had done so much to help + others, 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 of + Earthdom. "Do your best, little children, and big children, too, for God + has work for all." + </p> + <p> + Glories + </p> + <p> + Laura 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 + nine years old. So as soon as nap time came, and baby was at last quiet, + Laura went out on the porch and cuddled down in the hammock, where she + swung to and fro, wishing there was something nice to do, or some new + kinds of dolls to play with. All at once she thought she heard a faint + voice say, "What a queer child! Here she is wishing for some new + plaything, and has never noticed us. She must be blind, poor child! for + every morning we put on our prettiest dresses and smile at her; but she + always passes us by." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," replied another voice, "when she came out here to lie down in the + hammock, I brushed her hair softly and left a kiss on her forehead; but + she shook me off as if I were a bee trying to sting her." + </p> + <p> + Laura sat up, rubbed her eyes, and looked around in surprise. Had some one + really spoken, or had she only fallen asleep and dreamed it all? + </p> + <p> + She could see nothing except the morning glories which covered the side 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?" + </p> + <p> + The flowers nodded, as if they understood what she said. + </p> + <p> + "What pretty colors! I never half noticed them before," went on Laura, + "and wouldn't that blue one make a lovely dress?" + </p> + <p> + 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 wants + a trumpet," he cried. + </p> + <p> + Laura laughed aloud as she said: "Why, they do look like trumpets, and + like parasols, too;" and she gathered a handful of the blossoms and + sprinkled the porch with their brightness. "Let's play with them, baby; + see if we can make some dolls;" and Laura stood a glory on the step, and + into the tiny hole stuck the yellow center of a daisy, whose petals she + had pulled out. On this center she marked eyes, nose, and mouth; and when + a small glory was added for a bonnet, what a pretty flower doll she had, + with a pink skirt, green waist, and white bonnet! Then a whole family of + glories were made, and Laura gave them each a parasol to carry. + </p> + <p> + Baby used his glories for tents, and they had a good time playing, and + Laura wished she had noticed the glories more before. + </p> + <p> + By and by, when the day was over, and Laura sat again in the hammock, + watching the sleeping glories, she said: "I wonder if the glories could + have been talking this morning; "and one little sleepy bud looked as if it + could tell if it chose. But Mamma put her arm about the little girl and + said, "I think it was a dream, dear. But if the flowers could speak I + think they would tell my darling that by using her eyes more, she will + find out how 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 + every child who tries to be good, is a precious part of our Heavenly + Father's glories." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + A Fall Song + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Golden 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 Fall of the year. + + Good-by, sweet flowers! + Through bright Summer hours + You have filled 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 are brown and sere; + Brave robin redbreast + Has gone from his nest, + For this is the 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. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + The Babies' Blankets + </h2> + <p> + "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 what + mischief the boy is planning to do now, it is hard to tell. He is such a + happy little fellow, but is always up to some prank. If Father Winter does + not 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. I + have put them to bed and told them to keep quiet, and perhaps Jack will + not see them." + </p> + <p> + "Ha! ha! ha!" laughed a tinkling voice right at the dear old lady's elbow. + "Some of your children did not mind you. Early this morning I found one of + them whispering to a sunbeam, and under the hedge found a tiny blue aster. + I shook her till she was so cold she was glad to go back to bed again. Ha! + ha! ha!" and Jack gave Mother Nature such a hug that she shivered, and + murmured: "Poor babies! I must write a letter to Father Winter." + </p> + <p> + This is what the letter said: + </p> + <p> + Earthdom, November 1, 1893. + </p> + <p> + 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 to + his tricks again. Please send me some blankets soon. + </p> + <p> + From your old friend, + </p> + <p> + Mother Nature. + </p> + <p> + This letter she directed to + </p> + <p> + King Winter, The Polar Regions, Cloud-dom. + </p> + <p> + 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 the North + Wind, planning his coming work in Earthdom, when Autumn Wind arrived with + the letter. + </p> + <p> + "Deary me! deary me!" said the king, "has Jack Frost gone to bother Mother + Nature? I meant he should wait for me this year. But something must be + done. Ho! Snowflake, come here, and bring your sisters and brothers with + you." + </p> + <p> + In a few moments a troop of dainty beings clothed in white came dancing + along. "What do you wish, Father Winter?" they asked. + </p> + <p> + "Mother Nature has need of you, my helpers," replied the king. "You must, + stop the next passing cloud, and go down to Earthdom, and cover up the + babies. Jack is there, and they are freezing." + </p> + <p> + Just then a golden-edged cloud floated by, and the snowflakes huddled + together on it and were soon travelling earthward. The sun was setting as + they passed the western gate of the city, and the cloud was tinged with + red and gold. By and by it began to grow dark, and the little cloud grew + larger and larger, and before long the night came. In the morning the + little children of Earthdom were surprised to see a white covering over + the land. + </p> + <p> + "See the snow, the beautiful snow" they cried; and the sleds were brought + 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 how glad + dear Mother Nature was because her babies were sleeping safe and warm + under the downy snowflake blankets. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + The First Christmas + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Once 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." +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + The Christmas Star + </h2> + <p> + Long, long ago, in the blue sky above the hills of Bethlehem, twinkled the + stars. Very early in the morning they would sing together and would tell + each other of what they had seen during the long night. + </p> + <p> + They used to watch the shepherds guarding their flocks upon the hillsides, + and one bright evening star that looked down upon the earth earlier than + the others, would tell stories of little children whispering their prayers + at the twilight hour. One wintry night a new star came to visit the other + stars. It was so radiant that its rays shone upon the gray hills and made + them light as day. It had come on a wonderful errand. The shepherds saw it + and were frightened at its strange brightness; but an angel came to them + 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 the + whole world." + </p> + <p> + Then the shepherds heard some singing,—beautiful singing, for a + great many angels had come to tell the good news; and the star grew larger + and brighter, it was so glad. When the angels had gone back to Heaven, the + shepherds said, "Let us go and see this child." So they left their flocks + sleeping on the hillsides, and took their crooks in their hands and + followed the star, which travelled on and on till it led them to the + little stable in Bethlehem, when the Baby Jesus was cradled in a manger. + Then the star moved 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 it were showing them the way to go. So they, too, followed the + star till it rested above the birthplace of Jesus. Then the wise men went + in and gave their best gifts to the baby, and they and the shepherds knelt + and thanked God for sending the little Christ Child to be the best + Christmas present the great world ever had. The star watched over them, + casting a peaceful light over 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 first glad Christmas day. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Love's Garden + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + There 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. +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Buttercup Gold and Other Stories, by +Ellen Robena Field + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES *** + +***** This file should be named 1978-h.htm or 1978-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/7/1978/ + +Produced by Dianne Bean, and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Buttercup Gold and Other Stories + +Author: Ellen Robena Field + +Posting Date: September 21, 2008 [EBook #1978] +Release Date: November, 1999 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES *** + + + + +Produced by Dianne Bean + + + + + +BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES + +By Ellen Robena Field + + + + + Copyrighted, 1894, by the Bangor (Maine) Kindergarten Association + + This book is lovingly dedicated to the dear kindergarten + children, and particularly to my little friend, Alice Caro Wing. + + + + "Children are God's apostles, day by day sent forth preach of + love and hope and peace."--Lowell. + + + + "Come to me, O, ye children! + And whisper in my ear + What the birds and winds are singing + In your sunny atmosphere. + + Ye are better than all the ballads + That were ever sung or said; + For ye are living poems + And all the rest are dead."--Longfellow. + + + + "And Nature, the old nurse, took + The child upon her knee, + Saying: 'Here is a story-book + Thy Father has written for thee."--Longfellow. + + + + +The Little New Year + +One 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 the moon +was shining brightly, Jack Frost had been so busily at work that Maurice +could not see through the thickly painted panes. So he crept sleepily +out of bed, and opened the window, and whispered: "Who is there?" + +"I am," replied a tinkling voice. "I am the little New Year, ho! ho! And +I've promised to bring a blessing to everyone. But I am such a little +fellow I need somebody to help me distribute them. Won't you please come +out and 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 +chin with 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 a +large cart which seemed to be loaded with good things. On one side of +this cart was painted the word "Love," and on the other "Kindness." As +soon as the New Year saw Maurice he said, "Now please take hold and help +me pull;" and down the driveway and up the hill they travelled until +they came to an old shanty. + +"Here is where I make my first call," said the New Year. Maurice looked +wonderingly at him. "Why, nobody lives here but an old colored man 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 as +children do. You shovel out a path to his door, while I unload some of +my blessings; and the little hands went busily at work, piling up warm +clothing, wood, and a new year's dinner, the New Year singing as he +worked:-- + + "Oh, I am the little New Year; ho! ho! + Here I come tripping it over the snow, + Shaking my bells with a merry din; + So open your door and let me in." + +Old Joe, hearing some noise outside, came to the door, and when he saw +all the nice gifts the tears ran down his cheeks for gladness; and as he +carried them into the house, he whispered: "The dear Lord has been here +to-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 know she +was sick." "See," said the New Year, "this window is open a little; let +us throw this bunch of pinks into the room. They will please her when +she wakes, 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 to +love and be kind to, my cart is full of blessings for them; and it will +never grow empty until I can no longer find people to help. If you will +go with me every day and help me scatter my blessings, you will see how +happy you will be all the long year." + +"A happy New Year!" called some one; and Maurice found himself in bed, +and his sister standing in the doorway smiling at him. "Have you had a +pleasant dream, dear?" she asked. + +"Why, where is the little New Year?" said Maurice; "he was just here +with 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 baby brother, the +gift of the New Year. How happy Maurice was then! But he did not forget +his dream. Old Joe and Bessie had their gifts, too, and Maurice tried so +hard to be helpful that he made all his friends glad because the happy +New Year had come. + + + + +Mother Nature's House Cleaning + +One 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 +his home at the North Pole; and Spring was coming over the hill with her +three little helpers to make Mother Nature a visit. + +Let us see who these helpers were. First there was roguish March with +his rosy cheeks, and his curly hair flying in the winds that blew +all about him. Next came Baby April with her apron full of violets, +daffodillies, and green grasses. Part of the time she smiled sweetly, +and part of it she frowned till the big tear drops chased each other +down her cheeks. Last came May, playing tag with the sunbeams, wandering +knee-deep in flowers, and calling to the birds that sang around her: + +Mother Nature watched them coming and murmured, "Such a dirty world as +King Winter has left behind him! It must be cleaned up before the little +girls, April and May, come, but March I am sure will want to help me do +it." + +She beckoned to the frolicsome boy who came racing down the hill to +see what she wanted. "I must have some rain to wash away all this dirty +snow," she said; so March whistled to the East Wind, who blew together +the rain-clouds, and soon the tiny rain drops were busy at work washing +the floors of the world, and in a short time the snow was all gone. +Then Mother Nature wanted the sky ceilings cleaned, so this time March +whistled to the West Wind who began to sweep away the cloud cobwebs from +the sky till the cheery old sun smiled again, and shone Mother Nature a +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 South Wind +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 so +well on all of the thirty-one days he had spent with her, and told him +she would send for him again when her next cleaning day came around. + + + + +How the Raindrops and Sunbeams Helped + +One morning Mother Nature looked about her, and said: "My children have +had such a nice long rest and it will do them good, for they have a busy +summer before them. It is time to go to work now, and as some of the +babies just won't wake up till they have to, I must send for my helpers +at once." The long days carried her messages, which in our language +would have read something like this:-- + +My Dear Helpers, Sunbeams, and Raindrops:-- + +You are needed down here on earth. It is time to dress my plant +children, and give them work to do. The birds must be called back from +the South, and the cocooons must be opened so that my butterflies can +come out. I shall have to make good soil and get my clover beds ready +for the honey makers. Come at once, as some have been sleeping too long +already. 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 Nature + +This she directed to the Sunbeams at Blue Sky Park, and the Raindrops at +Cloud Land. When the message reached these little helpers, they started +off at once to obey the call, and the sun gave such a merry laugh, that +Grandma came to the door of the farm house and remarked: "How warm it +is today, quite like spring; I believe I will set out my geraniums." But +just then a silvery voice said: "Wait a little while longer till we make +the ground soft," and pop came a raindrop upon the dear old lady's +nose, and she hurried into the house, saying "What queer weather we are +having! first sun and then rain." Then the Raindrops and Sunbeams smiled +at each other, and danced more merrily, for they knew what good work +they were doing to the great brown house where the flowers dwell. + +The tap, tap, of the Raindrops wake them up, and when they raised their +sleepy heads and felt the warm kisses of the Sunbeams, they were glad +and began to grow. Soft breezes called to the leaves to come out, and +soon the brown coats which the trees had worn all winter were replaced +by new green dresses. Pussy willow and snowdrop were the first to +herald the spring, and crocus and violet soon followed. Out in the woods +blossomed tiny pink and white May flowers. Little seeds burst off their +jackets and sent up green plumes. Then Mother Nature called her helpers +again and told 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 helpers had done their work well, and were happy--and every +one thanked God for the spring. + + + + +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 of doors 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 sunny +morning, for Mother Nature was singing one, too, and a soft breeze was +gently tucking some little brown cradles to and fro in the tree tops. +Some were very, very small, and others were larger, but each held a +wee leaf baby, fast asleep. The next time Helena came out to play, the +babies in the treetop were waking up, and she could see them in their +dainty green nightdresses, peeping out at the world. During the next +week they grew a great deal, and one of them crept out of their cradles +which fell down to the 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 through +the hot, dusty days of summer. When Autumn came, Mother Nature gave +them a holiday, and how pretty they looked in their gay gowns as they +frolicked with the wind! + +Then they said good-by to the Maple tree, and went dancing and whirling +over the fields to meet King Winter. When Helena looked into their old +homes on the tree, she found some more tiny brown cradles, and knew that +in them were new leaf babies that sleep safely til Spring comes again to +visit Earthdom, and wakes each "baby in the tree top." + + + + +A Child of Spring + + I 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, + The snow-drops, pure and white, + Timid blue-eyed violets, + And daffodillies bright. + + She loves dear Mother Nature, + And wanders by her side; + She beckons to the birdlings + That flock from far and wide. + She wakes the baby brooklets, + Soft breezes hear her call; + She tells the little children + The sweetest tales of all. + + Her brow is sometimes clouded, + And she sighs with gentle grace, + Till the sunbeams, daring lovers, + Kiss the teardrops from her face. + Well we know this dainty maiden, + For April is her name; + And we welcome her with gladness, + As the springtime comes again. + + + + +Mr. Frog's Story + +Down in the garden is a pretty brook, and something funny happened one +day as I was sitting watching the tadpoles and minnows playing tag and +hide-and-go-seek. All at once something gave a jump out of the water and +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 replied politely +and inquired for his health. + +He assured me that he was well and happy, and went on talking. "Did you +know that I was once a tadpole just like those little creatures in the +brook? + +"I have heard people say that you were," I answered. "You would not +believe it to look at me now, would you?" + +"No," I said, for certainly he did not look at all like the queer little +animals I was watching. + +"Yes," he continued, "once I was a tiny black egg in a globe of clear +white jelly, and floated around along the bank of this same brook. Soon +I grew into a wee tadpole, and freed myself from the globe of jelly, +and found I could swim about. I had a long flat tail which I used as +a paddle to help me swim. I had no feet nor legs then, but I grew very +fast, and soon two legs came out near my tail, and by and by two front +ones came, and I did not need my tail any more, so it disappeared. Then +I discovered that I had a long, slender tongue to catch insects with. My +skin, too, had changed, and is now covered with beautiful spots, and if +you look at my eyes 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 tadpole +children, and tell them of the time when they, too, will grow up and be +toads and frogs." + +Here Mr. Frog paused, and before I could thank him for his interesting +story, he gave a loud "kadunk," which means "good-by," and with a splash +he was off for a swim in the brook. + + + + +The Robin + +One day, while walking home from the Kindergarten, I met some travellers +coming 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 them +say, "How do you do? We are glad to see you again. Are there plenty of +houses to rent this Spring? You will have a great many more visitors by +and by, for our friends are coming North as soon as the weather gets a +little warmer." + +"Yes," I replied, "some of the houses you occupied last spring are +waiting for you, and you will find pleasant places on which to build +new ones in Crab Apple Lane, Woodbine Walk, Maple Park, and Apple Tree +Avenue." + +"Thank you," they called, and hurried on, leaving me to wonder what +sort 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 +be there," he chirped; "and if you will look out a minute, I'll show you +my house." + +Sure enough, there was a tiny home on Apple tree Avenue, just at the +corner of Branch Alley. There was a cellar of mud, and the rest of the +cottage 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 to +housekeeping. "All but the beds," he replied, "but if you will give me +some hair and a few feathers, I will soon have a soft place for our eggs +to rest on." + +I threw some out, and in a short time the nest was lined. Then Robin +flew off, returning the next day with his mate, who showed her delight +at the new home by cozily settling down in it. + +Every morning the birds gave a concert above my window, and one day I +heard some new notes, and, peeping out, saw that five little robins had +come to brighten the cozy nest. Such a busy time as the papa and mamma +Redbreasts had now! Such a digging for worms to drop into the big mouths +which seemed to be always asking for food! In a few weeks the baby birds +learned to fly, and left the nest to make new homes and sing their own +sweet songs. + +The old birds stayed on the Avenue awhile longer, but when the leaves +put on their holiday dresses, and the flowers tied on their nightcaps +and went to sleep, the Redbreasts sang good-by to their friends and, +spreading their wings, flew away over the house tops toward the Sunny +South. + + + + +Easter Carol + + The 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; + They carol 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!" + + + + +The Lily Sisters + +Once 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 +and opal, and soft, velvety green carpets covered the floors. + +Many other children lived with these little sisters, and they had such +a kind nurse called Dame Nature, who taught them how to do their work +well; 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 King +would come to see who had done loving work for him, and would give the +good lilies beautiful white robes and golden crowns, but she was not +willing to wait until the King was ready and saw fit to do it. + +When the Sunbeam children came to play, she would hang down her head and +sulk, and after a while they would leave her alone, and play with her +sisters. + +When Professor Rain's school was out, and the jolly little raindrops +coaxed 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 +as the 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 sunbeams dancing +away to awaken the inhabitants of the palace for the crowning. + +Away they went, peeping through the curtains, and flying into the +windows of the palace and waking all the little children with kisses. + +Then they took off the old green dresses of the sisters, and put pure +white robes on them and gave them crowns of pure gold. The other little +sister wished then that she had tried to do right, and drooped until she +faded away. + +Madam Wind and the Bird family gave a grand concert in Maple Tree Park. +Everything was full of gladness, and the lily sisters held a reception +all day, and many people came to congratulate them upon being crowned. +Among their visitors was wee Ruth, who kissed them and took them to a +little sick friend. He smiled as she pressed them into his hand, saying: +"Take them, please, for Easter," and in her sweet child language she +told the story of Easter, and of the wonderful work the Great King's Son +did for the people of the beautiful palace. + + + + +Nature's Violet Children + +Once 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 +the soft, white snow-blankets that King Winter had sent Mother Nature for +her flower babies. Jack Frost had gone pouting over the hills because +the little sunbeams would not play with him, and spoiled his fancy +pictures. The tiny 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 dainty +heads, 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 +those violets are," she said. "I wish I could stay and watch the buds +open, but I will take some of them with me and keep them in water, and +they will remind me of this sunny hill, and perhaps they will blossom." + +Then the violets were frightened and whispered, "Please don't take us!" +But Ruth did not hear them, and she pulled stem after stem till her +small 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 set them +in an open window where they could see the blue sky and feel the kisses +of the sunbeams. But the poor little violets drooped for a time, they +were 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!" +but they would not listen to him at first. + +By and by they said, "Why do you sing that to us? How can we be happy +away from our beautiful home?" + +Still the bird sang "cheer up! chirrup! The sun is smiling at you and I +am singing to you. We are trying to make you glad. How nice it would +be if you would only blossom and make some one happy instead of hanging +your heads and trying to die. Do you think I like to be shut up here? If +some one would leave the door of my cage open, I would spread my wings +and 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!" + +"Perhaps he is right," said the buds, and they lifted up their heads +and began to grow. One bright spring morning Mother Nature passed by the +window and gave them each a lovely violet cap. Then they were, glad, and +Ruth was happy, too, because her buds had blossomed. + +The cheery canary sang his sweetest carol to them, and the whole day was +bright because Mother Nature's little violet children had tried their +best to be happy and so had made others happy, too. + +As the great red sun went down into the west, he heard the happy bird +still singing "cheer up! chirrup!" + + + + +Baby Caterpillar + +Baby Caterpillar was tired. All summer long she had been travelling +slowly through the green world where she lived, and feeding on the green +leaves that grew near her home. Now Autumn had come and Mother Nature +had given a holiday to the leaves, who put on their new dresses of red +and gold and played tag with the breezes. Baby Caterpillar wanted to +play, too, but could not run so fast as the happy little leaves, and she +grew very tired and thought she would take a nap. So she found a cozy +place among 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 the +cradle swinging to and fro, and began to play roughly with it, for he is +a roguish little fellow, and touches everything that comes in his way. +But the warm blanket hid the little sleeper so that Jack could not find +her. + +By and by King Winter came, bringing beautiful snow blankets to Mother +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 of Mother +Nature's helpers. They awoke the flowers from their long winter nap, and +called to the birds and the brooks to begin their songs. When they came +to the little brown cradle, they stopped to rest, and Baby Caterpillar +began to get very warm under the thick blanket. She woke up and +stretched herself, and her cradle broke, and she came out to greet the +Spring. But what a change! Instead of the old dingy dress that she +went to sleep in, she now had a beautiful yellow one; and, instead of +crawling among the leaves, she flew up and away into the sweet spring +air to play with the sunbeams and flowers; and the little children +called her a butterfly. + + + + +Five Little Indian Brothers + +Once there were five little brothers living in Farmer Lane's barn. There +were a great many other children there, too, but these little brothers +played by themselves, and chased each other across the wide floor of the +barn until they reached a corner where there was a large crack, and then +they could look out into the world. The first thing they saw was Farmer +Lane breaking up the rich brown earth with his plough, for Spring +had come, and told him it was time to do his planting, while the little +brothers were watching him, and wishing they could find a way to roll +out into the bright sunshine and help him, something happened. What do +you suppose it was? + +A great brown hand came up behind them and in a moment they found +themselves in a wooden measure with many more of their friends. "What +is the matter?" said one little brother. "I don't know," said another. +"Maybe we are going to travel," said a third; while the two smallest +cuddled very closely together, and whispered, "We won't be afraid; God +will take care of us." + +The measure was taken, out into the field, where Farmer Lane was +still at work, and soon, into the furrows made by the plow, the little +brothers were dropped one by one. They lay very still at first. It was +so strange and dark 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, and some day would give them a new life. Then the little brothers +were glad and hoped it would be soon. Thus the days went by. The warm +spring showers moistened the earth, and the sun shone so brightly that +the brothers danced for joy way down in their dark home. What do you +suppose happened when they danced? Why, their old coats split open, and +some little hands came out. They were helpful hands, too, and went to +work at once. Some of them went down into the earth to find food and +water for the whole plants, and the others reached upward to the air and +sunshine, and spread out beautiful, long green leaves. + +Each day the plants grew taller and taller, and new buds came that +blossomed 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 +blew it to and fro, some of the tiny grains found little green cradles +along the sides of the plants, and crept into them. There they stayed, +growing strong 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 five +little 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 them about. God had taken care of them, and takes care +of of His little children, too. + + + + +Buttercup Gold + +Did 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 +time ago somebody found it. How he happened to find it, nobody knows, +for a great many people have searched in vain, and have never even been +able to discover that the rainbow has any ends at all. The man who found +it was very selfish and did not want anybody to know, for fear they +might want some of his money. So one night he put it in a bag, which +he slung over his shoulder, and walked across the fields toward a thick +wood where he meant to hide it. + +In the bag was something beside the gold--something so small that the +greedy man in his hurry had not noticed it. It was a hole, and, as he +walked on, one by one the gold coins fell out into the grass. When he +reached the wood and found all of his money gone, he hurried back to +search for it, but something strange had happened. It was a midsummer +night, and the fairies were having a dance out in the meadows. They were +good, loving little people, and despised selfishness above everything. +One little fairy spied the glittering gold among the grasses. She had +seen the greedy man passing by, and knew he would soon be back to hunt +for his treasure. "It will do him no good," she said, "if he hides +it away, and neither will it help anybody else. I will change it into +something that will give joy to rich and poor." + +When the greedy man reached the meadow he could see no gold money, +but in its place were bright, yellow flowers--buttercup gold for the +children. + + + + +The Raindrops + +Up above us, near the Sky Country, in a place called Cloudland, live a +great many little people, called raindrops. They are very helpful, +and always try to do their best, because they know the great King of +Cloudland has work for them all. One morning two tiny raindrops were +sitting together looking down at Earthdom. "How dusty and hot everything +looks," said one drop. "Yes," replied the other, "let us go down and +see how much good we can do in Earthdom to-day." So these two little +raindrops called their brothers and sisters and told of their plan, and +asked them to go, too, for they always wanted to share their good time +with others. "Let's have a game of tag, and see who will reach the top +of that hill first," said one little drop, and away they scampered. They +ran so fast that they reached Earthdom at about the same time, and how +glad Mother Nature 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 they raised their heads again, and thanked the raindrops +for the comfort they had brought. Some of them slid down the slanting +roofs of houses and filled the wells. Our two little raindrops with five +others, went down into the brown earth and cheered up the roots. Then +they travelled on, and by and by they came out again further down the +hill, and made a beautiful spring, around which little children +played. The spring soon helped make a brook, that flowed down over the +hillsides, winding in and out among the rocks, 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. The sunbeams +loved the clear stream and danced to and fro over its surface, as it +rushed joyously onward, turning the busy mill wheels, and keeping the +grass and flowers alive and beautiful. Sometimes weary travellers walked +along its banks, and stooped and quenched their thirst with its pure, +cool water. While the stream journeyed on, it met other streams and they +made a rivulet, and by and by the rivulet heard a low voice calling, +"Come with me and I will show you the mightiest of waters." So the +rivulet joined the river, and together they travelled on till they heard +the deep voice of the ocean welcoming them to its cave. + +Where were the little raindrops that left Cloudland early in the +morning? They were playing among the ocean waves, and helping to rock +the ships that sailed over the waters. At sunset a vapor-boat carried +the drops 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 +of promise. + +As they looked down upon Earthdom once more, everything was fresh, and +sweet, and glad, because the little raindrops had done so much to help +others, 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 of Earthdom. "Do your best, little children, and big children, +too, for God has work for all." + + +Glories + +Laura 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 +nine years old. So as soon as nap time came, and baby was at last quiet, +Laura went out on the porch and cuddled down in the hammock, where she +swung to and fro, wishing there was something nice to do, or some new +kinds of dolls to play with. All at once she thought she heard a +faint voice say, "What a queer child! Here she is wishing for some new +plaything, and has never noticed us. She must be blind, poor child! for +every morning we put 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 in the +hammock, I brushed her hair softly and left a kiss on her forehead; but +she shook me off as if I were a bee trying to sting her." + +Laura sat up, rubbed her eyes, and looked around in surprise. Had some +one really spoken, or had she only fallen asleep and dreamed it all? + +She could see nothing except the morning glories which covered the side +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, +"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 +wants a 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 and +sprinkled the porch with their brightness. "Let's play with them, baby; +see if we can make some dolls;" and Laura stood a glory on the step, +and into the tiny hole stuck the yellow center of a daisy, whose petals +she had pulled out. On this center she marked eyes, nose, and mouth; and +when a small glory was added for a bonnet, what a pretty flower doll +she had, with a pink skirt, green waist, and white bonnet! Then a whole +family of glories were made, and Laura gave them each a parasol to +carry. + +Baby used his glories for tents, and they had a good time playing, and +Laura wished she had noticed the glories more before. + +By and by, when the day was over, and Laura sat again in the hammock, +watching the sleeping glories, she said: "I wonder if the glories could +have been talking this morning; "and one little sleepy bud looked as if +it could tell if it chose. But Mamma put her arm about the little girl +and said, "I think it was a dream, dear. But if the flowers could speak +I think they would tell my darling that by using her eyes more, she will +find out how 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 every child who tries to be good, is a precious part of our Heavenly +Father's glories." + + + + +A Fall Song + + Golden 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 Fall of the year. + + Good-by, sweet flowers! + Through bright Summer hours + You have filled 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 are brown and sere; + Brave robin redbreast + Has gone from his nest, + For this is the 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. + + + + +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 what +mischief the boy is planning to do now, it is hard to tell. He is such +a happy little fellow, but is always up to some prank. If Father Winter +does not 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. I have put them to bed and told them to keep quiet, and perhaps +Jack will not see them." + +"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed a tinkling voice right at the dear old lady's +elbow. "Some of your children did not mind you. Early this morning I +found one of them whispering to a sunbeam, and under the hedge found +a tiny blue aster. I shook her till she was so cold she was glad to go +back to bed again. Ha! ha! ha!" and Jack gave Mother Nature such a hug +that she shivered, and murmured: "Poor babies! I must write a letter to +Father Winter." + +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 +to his tricks again. Please send me some blankets soon. + +From your old friend, + +Mother Nature. + +This letter she directed to + +King 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 the +North Wind, planning his coming work in Earthdom, when Autumn Wind +arrived with the letter. + +"Deary me! deary me!" said the king, "has Jack Frost gone to bother +Mother Nature? I meant he should wait for me this year. But something +must be done. Ho! Snowflake, come here, and bring your sisters and +brothers with you." + +In a few moments a troop of dainty beings clothed in white came dancing +along. "What do you wish, Father Winter?" they asked. + +"Mother Nature has need of you, my helpers," replied the king. "You +must, stop the next passing cloud, and go down to Earthdom, and cover up +the babies. Jack is there, and they are freezing." + +Just then a golden-edged cloud floated by, and the snowflakes huddled +together on it and were soon travelling earthward. The sun was setting +as they passed the western gate of the city, and the cloud was tinged +with red and gold. By and by it began to grow dark, and the little cloud +grew larger and larger, and before long the night came. In the morning +the little children of Earthdom were surprised to see a white covering +over the land. + +"See the snow, the beautiful snow" they cried; and the sleds were +brought 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 how glad dear Mother Nature was because her babies were sleeping +safe and warm under the downy snowflake blankets. + + + + +The First Christmas + + Once 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." + + + + +The Christmas Star + +Long, long ago, in the blue sky above the hills of Bethlehem, twinkled +the stars. Very early in the morning they would sing together and would +tell each other of what they had seen during the long night. + +They used to watch the shepherds guarding their flocks upon the +hillsides, and one bright evening star that looked down upon the +earth earlier than the others, would tell stories of little children +whispering their prayers at the twilight hour. One wintry night a new +star came to visit the other stars. It was so radiant that its rays +shone upon the gray hills and made them light as day. It had come on +a wonderful errand. The shepherds saw it and were frightened at its +strange brightness; but an angel came to them 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 the whole world." + +Then the shepherds heard some singing,--beautiful singing, for a great +many angels had come to tell the good news; and the star grew larger and +brighter, it was so glad. When the angels had gone back to Heaven, +the shepherds said, "Let us go and see this child." So they left their +flocks sleeping on the hillsides, and took their crooks in their hands +and followed the star, which travelled on and on till it led them to the +little stable in Bethlehem, when the Baby Jesus was cradled in a manger. +Then the star moved 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 it were showing them the way to go. So they, too, +followed the star till it rested above the birthplace of Jesus. Then the +wise men went in and gave their best gifts to the baby, and they and the +shepherds knelt and thanked God for sending the little Christ Child to +be the best Christmas present the great world ever had. The star watched +over them, casting a peaceful light over 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 first glad Christmas day. + + + + +Love's Garden + + There 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. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Buttercup Gold and Other Stories, by +Ellen Robena Field + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES *** + +***** This file should be named 1978.txt or 1978.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/7/1978/ + +Produced by Dianne Bean + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +Etext scanned by Dianne Bean of Phoenix, Arizona. + + + + + +BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES + +by Ellen Robena Field + + + + +Copyrighted, 1894, by the Bangor (Maine) Kindergarten Association + +This book is lovingly dedicated to the dear kindergarten +children, and particularly to my little friend, Alice Caro Wing. + + + +"Children are God's apostles, day by day sent forth preach of +love and hope and peace."--Lowell. + + + +"Come to me, O, ye children! +And whisper in my ear +What the birds and winds are singing +In your sunny atmosphere. + +Ye are better than all the ballads +That were ever sung or said; +For ye are living poems +And all the rest are dead."--Longfellow. + + + +"And Nature, the old nurse, took +The child upon her knee, +Saying: 'Here is a story-book +Thy Father has written for thee."--Longfellow. + + + + +The Little New Year + +One 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 the moon was shining brightly, Jack Frost had been so +busily at work that Maurice could not see through the thickly +painted panes. So he crept sleepily out of bed, and opened the +window, and whispered: "Who is there?" + +"I am," replied a tinkling voice. "I am the little New Year, ho! +ho! And I've promised to bring a blessing to everyone. But I am +such a little fellow I need somebody to help me distribute them. +Won't you please come out and 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 chin with 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 a large cart which seemed to be loaded with good +things. On one side of this cart was painted the word "Love," and +on the other "Kindness." As soon as the New Year saw Maurice he +said, "Now please take hold and help me pull;" and down the +driveway and up the hill they travelled until they came to an old +shanty. + +"Here is where I make my first call," said the New Year. Maurice +looked wonderingly at him. "Why, nobody lives here but an old +colored man 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 as children do. You shovel out a path to +his door, while I unload some of my blessings; and the little +hands went busily at work, piling up warm clothing, wood, and a +new year's dinner, the New Year singing as he worked:- + +"Oh, I am the little New Year; ho! ho! +Here I come tripping it over the snow, +Shaking my bells with a merry din; +So open your door and let me in." + +Old Joe, hearing some noise outside, came to the door, and when +he saw all the nice gifts the tears ran down his cheeks for +gladness; and as he carried them into the house, he whispered: +"The dear Lord has been here to-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 know she was sick." "See," said the New Year, +"this window is open a little; let us throw this bunch of pinks +into the room. They will please her when she wakes, 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 to love and be kind to, my cart is full of +blessings for them; and it will never grow empty until I can no +longer find people to help. If you will go with me every day and +help me scatter my blessings, you will see how happy you will be +all the long year." + +"A happy New Year!" called some one; and Maurice found himself in +bed, and his sister standing in the doorway smiling at him. "Have +you had a pleasant dream, dear?" she asked. + +"Why, where is the little New Year?" said Maurice; "he was just +here with 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 baby brother, the gift of the New.Year. How happy Maurice +was then! But he did not forget his dream. Old Joe and Bessie had +their gifts, too, and Maurice tried so hard to be helpful that he +made all his friends glad because the happy New Year had come. + + + +Mother Nature's House Cleaning + +One 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 his home at the North Pole; and Spring was coming over +the hill with her three little helpers to make Mother Nature a +visit. + +Let us see who these helpers were. First there was roguish March +with his rosy cheeks, and his curly hair flying in the winds that +blew all about him. Next came Baby April with her apron full of +violets, daffodillies, and green grasses. Part of the time she +smiled sweetly, and part of it she frowned till the big tear +drops chased each other down her cheeks. Last came May, playing +tag with the sunbeams, wandering knee-deep in flowers, and +calling to the birds that sang around her: + +Mother Nature watched them coming and murmured, "Such a dirty +world as King Winter has left behind him! It must be cleaned up +before the little girls, April and May, come, but March I am sure +will want to help me do it." + +She beckoned to the frolicsome boy who came racing down the hill +to see what she wanted. "I must have some rain to wash away all +this dirty snow," she said; so March whistled to the East Wind, +who blew together the rain-clouds, and soon the tiny rain drops +were busy at work washing the floors of the world, and in a short +time the snow was all gone. Then Mother Nature wanted the sky +ceilings cleaned, so this time March whistled to the West Wind +who began to sweep away the cloud cobwebs from the sky till the +cheery old sun smiled again, and shone Mother Nature a 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 South Wind 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 +so well on all of the thirty-one days he had spent with her, and +told him she would send for him again when her next cleaning day +came around. + + + +How the Raindrops and Sunbeams Helped + +One morning Mother Nature looked about her, and said: "My +children have had such a nice long rest and it will do them good, +for they have a busy summer before them. It is time to go to work +now, and as some of the babies just won't wake up till they have +to, I must send for my helpers at once." The long days carried +her messages, which in our language would have 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 +from the South, and the cocooons must be opened so that my +butterflies can come out. I shall have to make good soil and get +my clover beds ready for the honey makers. Come at once, as some +have been sleeping too long already. 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 Nature + +This she directed to the Sunbeams at Blue Sky Park, and the +Raindrops at Cloud Land. When the message reached these little +helpers, they started off at once to obey the call, and the sun +gave such a merry laugh, that Grandma came to the door of the +farm house and remarked: "How warm it is today, quite like +spring; I believe I will set out my geraniums." But just then a +silvery voice said: "Wait a little while longer till we make the +ground soft," and pop came a raindrop upon the dear old lady's +nose, and she hurried into the house, saying "What queer weather +we are having! first sun and then rain." Then the Raindrops and +Sunbeams smiled at each other, and danced more merrily, for they +knew what good work they were doing to the great brown house +where the flowers dwell. + +The tap, tap, of the Raindrops wake them up, and when they raised +their sleepy heads and felt the warm kisses of the Sunbeams, they +were glad and began to grow. Soft breezes called to the leaves to +come out, and soon the brown coats which the trees had worn all +winter were replaced by new green dresses. Pussy willow and +snowdrop were the first to herald the spring, and crocus and +violet soon followed. Out in the woods blossomed tiny pink and +white May flowers. Little seeds burst off their jackets and sent +up green plumes. Then Mother Nature called her helpers again and +told 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 helpers had done their work well, and +were happy--and every one thanked God for the spring. + + + +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 of doors 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 sunny +morning, for Mother Nature was singing one, too, and a soft +breeze was gently tucking some little brown cradles to and fro in +the tree tops. Some were very, very small, and others wen larger, +but each held a wee leaf baby, fast asleep. The next time Helena +came out to play, the babies in the treetop were waking up, and +she could see them in their dainty green nightdresses, peeping +out at the world. During the next week they grew a great deal, +and one of them crept out of their cradles which fell down to the +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 through the hot, dusty days of summer. When Autumn +came, Mother Nature gave them a holiday, and how pretty they +looked in their gay gowns as they frolicked with the wind! + +Then they said good-by to the Maple tree, and went dancing and +whirling over the fields to meet King Winter. When Helena looked +into their old homes on the tree, she found some more tiny brown +cradles, and knew that in them were new leaf babies that sleep +safely til Spring comes again to visit Earthdom, and wakes each +"baby in the tree top." + + + +A Child of Spring + +I 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, +The snow-drops, pure and white, +Timid blue-eyed violets, +And daffodillies bright. + +She loves dear Mother Nature, +And wanders by her side; +She beckons to the birdlings +That flock from far and wide. +She wakes the baby brooklets, +Soft breezes hear her call; +She tells the little children +The sweetest tales of all. + +Her brow is sometimes clouded, +And she sighs with gentle grace, +Till the sunbeams, daring lovers, +Kiss the teardrops from her face. +Well we know this dainty maiden, +For April is her name; +And we welcome her with gladness, +As the springtime comes again. + + + +Mr. Frog's Story + +Down in the garden is a pretty brook, and something funny +happened one day as I was sitting watching the tadpoles and +minnows playing tag and hide-and-goseek. All at once something +gave a jump out of the water and 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 replied politely and inquired +for his health. + +He assured me that he was well and happy, and went on talking. +"Did you know that I was once a tadpole just like those little +creatures in the brook? + +"I have heard people say that you were," I answered. "You would +not believe it to look at me now, would you?" + +"No," I said, for certainly he did not look at all like the queer +little animals I was watching. + +"Yes," he continued, "once I was a tiny black egg in a globe of +clear white jelly, and floated around along the bank of this same +brook. Soon I grew into a wee tadpole, and freed myself from the +globe of jelly, and found I could swim about. I had a long flat +tail which I used as a paddle to help me swim. I had no feet nor +legs then, but I grew very fast, and soon two legs came out near +my tail, and by and by two front ones came, and I did not need my +tail any more, so it disappeared. Then I discovered that I had a +long, slender tongue to catch insects with. My skin, too, had +changed, and is now covered with beautiful spots, and if you look +at my eyes 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 tadpole children, and tell them of the time when they, +too, will grow up and be toads and frogs." + +Here Mr. Frog paused, and before I could thank him for his +interesting story, he gave a loud "kadunk," which means +"good-by," and with a splash he was off for a swim in the brook. + + + +The Robin + +One day, while walking home from the Kindergarten, I met some +travellers 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 them say, "How do you do? We are glad to see you +again. Are there plenty of houses to rent this Spring? You will +have a great many more visitors by and by, for our friends are +coming North as soon as the weather gets a little warmer." + +"Yes," I replied, "some of the houses you occupied last spring +are waiting for you, and you will find pleasant places on which +to build new ones in Crab Apple Lane, Woodbine Walk, Maple Park, +and Apple Tree Avenue." + +"Thank you," they called, and hurried on, leaving me to wonder +what sort 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 be there," he chirped; "and if you will look out a +minute, I'll show you my house." + +Sure enough, there was a tiny home on Apple tree Avenue, just at +the corner of Branch Alley. There was a cellar of mud, and the +rest of the cottage 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 +to housekeeping. "All but the beds," he replied, "but if you will +give me some hair and a few feathers, I will soon have a soft +place for our eggs to rest on." + +I threw some out, and in a short time the nest was lined. Then +Robin flew off, returning the next day with his mate, who showed +her delight at the new home by cozily settling down in it. + +Every morning the birds gave a concert above my window, and one +day I heard some new notes, and, peeping out, saw that five +little robins had come to brighten the cozy nest. Such a busy +time as the papa and mamma Redbreasts had now! Such a digging +for worms to drop into the big mouths which seemed to be always +asking for food! In a few weeks the baby birds learned to fly, +and left the nest to make new homes and sing their own sweet +songs. + +The old birds stayed on the Avenue awhile longer, but when the +leaves put on their holiday dresses, and the flowers tied on +their nightcaps and went to sleep, the Redbreasts sang good-by to +their friends and, spreading their wings, flew away over the +house tops toward the Sunny South. + + +Easter Carol + +The 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; +They carol 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!" + + + +The Lily Sisters + +Once 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 and opal, and soft, velvety green carpets +covered the floors. + +Many other children lived with these little sisters, and they had +such a kind nurse called Dame Nature, who taught them how to do +their work well; 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 +King would come to see who had done loving work for him, and +would give the good lilies beautiful white robes and golden +crowns, but she was not willing to wait until the King was ready +and saw fit to do it. + +When the Sunbeam children came to play, she would hang down her +head and sulk, and after a while they would leave her alone, and +play with her sisters. + +When Professor Rain's school was out, and the jolly little +raindrops coaxed 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 as the 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 +sunbeams dancing away to awaken the inhabitants of the palace for +the crowning. + +Away they went, peeping through the curtains, and flying into the +windows of the palace and waking all the little children with +kisses. + +Then they took off the old green dresses of the sisters, and put +pure white robes on them and gave them crowns of pure gold. The +other little sister wished then that she had tried to do right, +and drooped until she faded away. + +Madam Wind and the Bird family gave a grand concert in Maple Tree +Park. Everything was full of gladness, and the lily sisters held +a reception all day, and many people came to congratulate them +upon being crowned. Among their visitors was wee Ruth, who kissed +them and took them to a little sick friend. He smiled as she +pressed them into his hand, saying: "Take them, please, for +Easter," and in her sweet child language she told the story of +Easter, and of the wonderful work the Great King's Son did for +the people of the beautiful palace. + + + +Nature's Violet Children + +Once 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 the soft, white snowblankets that King Winter +had sent Mother Nature for her flower babies. Jack Frost had gone +pouting over the hills because the little sunbeams would not play +with him, and spoiled his fancy pictures. The tiny 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 +dainty heads, 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 those violets are," she said. "I wish I +could stay and watch the buds open, but I will take some of them +with me and keep them in water, and they will remind me of this +sunny hill, and perhaps they will blossom." + +Then the violets were frightened and whispered, "Please don't +take us!" But Ruth did not hear them, and she pulled stem after +stem till her small 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 +set them in an open window where they could see the blue sky and +feel the kisses of the sunbeams. But the poor little violets +drooped for a time, they were 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,!" but they would not +listen to him at first. + +By and by they said, "Why do you sing that to us? How can we be +happy away from our beautiful home?" + +Still the bird sang "cheer up! chirrup! The sun is smiling at you +and I am singing to you. We are trying to make you glad. How nice +it would be if you would only blossom and make some one happy +instead of hanging your heads and trying to die. Do you think I +like to be shut up here? If some one would leave the door of my +cage open, I would spread my wings and 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!" + +"Perhaps he is right," said the buds, and they lifted up their +heads and began to grow. One bright spring morning Mother Nature +passed by the window and gave them each a lovely violet cap. Then +they were, glad, and Ruth was happy, too, because her buds had +blossomed. + +The cheery canary sang his sweetest carol to them, and the whole +day was bright because Mother Nature's little violet children had +tried their best to be happy and so had made others happy, too. + +As the great red sun went down into the west, he heard the happy +bird still singing "cheer up! chirrup!" + + + +Baby Caterpillar + +Baby Caterpillar was tired. All summer long she had been +travelling slowly through the green world where she lived, and +feeding on the green leaves that grew near her home., Now Autumn +had come and Mother Nature had given a holiday to the leaves, who +put on their new dresses of red and gold and played tag with the +breezes. Baby Caterpillar wanted to play, too, but could not run +so fast as the happy little leaves, and she grew very tired and +thought she would take a nap. So she found a cozy place among 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 the cradle swinging to and fro, and began to play roughly +with it, for he is a roguish little fellow, and touches +everything that comes in his way. But the warm blanket hid the +little sleeper so that Jack could not find her. + +By and by King Winter came, bringing beautiful snow blankets to +Mother 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 of +Mother Nature's helpers. They awoke the flowers from their long +winter nap, and called to the birds and the brooks to begin their +songs. When they came to the little brown cradle, they stopped to +rest, and Baby Caterpillar began to get very warm under the thick +blanket. She woke up and stretched herself, and her cradle broke, +and she came out to greet the Spring. But what a change! Instead +of the old dingy dress that she went to sleep in, she now had a +beautiful yellow one; and, instead of crawling among the leaves, +she flew up and away into the sweet spring air to play with the +sunbeams and flowers; and the little children called her a +butterfly. + + + +Five Little Indian Brothers + +Once there were five little brothers living in Farmer Lane's +barn. There were a great many other children there, too, but +these little brothers played by themselves, and chased each other +across the wide floor of the barn until they reached a corner +where there was a large crack, and then they could look out into +the world. The first thing they saw was Farmer Lane breaking up +the rich brown earth with his plough, for Spring hadcome, and +told him it was time to do his planting, while the little +brothers were watching him, and wishing they could find a way to +roll out into the bright sunshine and help him, something +happened. What do you suppose it was? + +A great brown hand came up behind them and in a moment they found +themselves in a wooden measure with many more of their friends. +"What is the matter?" said one little brother. "I don't know," +said another. "Maybe we are going to travel," said a third; while +the two smallest cuddled very closely together, and whispered, +"We won't be afraid; God will take care of us." + +The measure was taken, out into the field, where Farmer Lane was +still at work, and soon, into the furrows made by the plow, the +little brothers were dropped one by one. They lay very still at +first. It was so strange and dark 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, and some day would give +them a new life. Then the little brothers were glad and hoped it +would be soon. Thus the days went by. The warm spring showers +moistened the earth, and the sun shone so brightly that the +brothers danced for joy way down in their dark home. What do you +suppose happened when they danced? Why, their old coats split +open, and some little hands came out. They were helpful hands, +too, and went to work at once. Some of them went down into the +earth to find food and water for the whole plants, and the others +reached upward to the air and sunshine, and spread out beautiful, +long green leaves. + +Each day the plants grew taller and taller, and new buds came +that blossomed 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 blew it to and fro, some of the tiny +grains found little green cradles along the sides of the plants, +and crept into them. There they stayed, growing strong 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 +five little 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 them about. God had taken care of them, and +takes care of of His little children, too. + + + +Buttercup Gold + +Did 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 time ago somebody found it. How he happened +to find it, nobody knows, for a great many people have searched +in vain, and have never even been able to discover that the +rainbow has any ends at all. The man who found it was very +selfish and did not want anybody to know, for fear they might +want some of his money. So one night he put it in a bag, which he +slung over his shoulder, and walked across the fields toward a +thick wood where he meant to hide it. + +In the bag was something beside the gold--something so small that +the greedy man in his hurry had not noticed it. It was a hole, +and, as he walked on, one by one the gold coins fell out into the +grass. When he reached the wood and found all of his money gone, +he hurried back to search for it, but something strange had +happened. It was a midsummer night, and the fairies were having a +dance out in the meadows. They were good, loving little people, +and despised selfishness above everything. One little fairy spied +the glittering gold among the grasses. She had seen the greedy +man passing by, and knew he would soon be back to hunt for his +treasure. "It will do him no good," she said, "if he hides it +away, and neither will it help anybody else. I will change it +into something that will give joy to rich and poor." + +When the greedy man reached the meadow he could see no gold +money, but in its place were bright, yellow flowers--buttercup +gold for the children. + + + +The Raindrops + +Up above us, near the Sky Country, in a place called Cloudland, +live a great many little people, called raindrops. They are very +helpful, and always try to do their best, because they know the +great King of Cloudland has work for them all. One morning two +tiny raindrops were sitting together looking down at Earthdom. +"How dusty and hot everything looks," said one drop. "Yes," +replied the other, "let us go down and see how much good we can +do in Earthdom to-day." So these two little raindrops called +their brothers and sisters and told of their plan, and asked them +to go, too, for they always wanted to share their good time with +others. "Let's have a game of tag, and see who will reach the top +of that hill first," said one little drop, and away they +scampered. They ran so fast that they reached Earthdom at about +the same time, and how glad Mother Nature 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 they raised their +heads again, and thanked the raindrops for the comfort they had +brought. Some of them slid down the slanting roofs of houses and +filled the wells. Our two little raindrops with five others, went +down into the brown earth and cheered up the roots. Then they +travelled on, and by and by they came out again further down the +hill, and made a beautiful spring, around which little children +played. The spring soon helped make a brook, that flowed down +over the hillsides, winding in and out among the rocks, 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. The +sunbeams loved the clear stream and danced to and fro over its +surface, as it rushed joyously onward, turning the busy mill +wheels, and keeping the grass and flowers alive and beautiful. +Sometimes weary travellers walked along its banks, and stooped +and quenched their thirst with its pure, cool water. While the +stream journeyed on, it met other streams and they made a +rivulet, and by and by the rivulet heard a low voice calling, +"Come with me and I will show you the mightiest of waters." So +the rivulet joined the river, and together they travelled on till +they heard the deep voice of the ocean welcoming them to its +cave. + +Where were the little raindrops that left Cloudland early in the +morning? They were playing among the ocean waves, and helping to +rock the ships that sailed over the waters. At sunset a +vapor-boat carried the drops 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 of promise. + +As they looked down upon Earthdom once more, everything was +fresh, and sweet, and glad, because the little raindrops had done +so much to help others, 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 of Earthdom. "Do your +best, little children, and big children, too, for God has work +for all." + + +Glories + +Laura 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 nine years old. So as soon as nap time came, and +baby was at last quiet, Laura went out on the porch and cuddled +down in the hammock, where she swung to and fro, wishing there +was something nice to do, or some new kinds of dolls to play +with. All at once she thought she heard a faint voice say, "What +a queer child! Here she is wishing for some new plaything, and +has never noticed us. She must be blind, poor child! for every +morning we put 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 +in the hammock, I brushed her hair softly and left a kiss on her +forehead; but she shook me off as if I were a bee trying to sting +her." + +Laura sat up, rubbed her eyes, and looked around in surprise. Had +some one really spoken, or had she only fallen asleep and dreamed +it all? + +She could see nothing except the morning glories which covered +the side 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, "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 wants a 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 and sprinkled the porch with their brightness. +"Let's play with them, baby; see if we can make some dolls; " and +Laura stood a glory on the step, and into the tiny hole stuck the +yellow center of a daisy, whose petals she had pulled out. On +this center she marked eyes, nose, and mouth; and when a small +glory was added for a bonnet, what a pretty flower doll she had, +with a pink skirt, green waist, and white bonnet! Then a whole +family of glories were made, and Laura gave them each a parasol +to carry. + +Baby used his glories for tents, and they had +a good time playing, and Laura wished she had noticed the glories +more before. + +By and by, when the day was over, and Laura sat again in the +hammock, watching the sleeping glories, she said: "I wonder if +the glories could have been talking this morning; "and one little +sleepy bud looked as if it could tell if it chose. But Mamma put +her arm about the little girl and said, "I think it was a dream, +dear. But if the flowers could speak I think they would tell my +darling that by using her eyes more, she will find out how 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 every child who tries to be good, is a precious +part of our Heavenly Father's glories." + + + +A Fall Song + +Golden 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 Fall of the year. + +Good-by, sweet flowers! +Through bright Summer hours +You have filled 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 are brown and sere; +Brave robin redbreast +Has gone from his nest, +For this is the 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. + + + +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 what mischief the boy is planning to do now, it is hard to +tell. He is such a happy little fellow, but is always up to some +prank. If Father Winter does not 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. I have put them to +bed and told them to keep quiet, and perhaps Jack will not see +them." + +"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed a tinkling voice right at the dear old +lady's elbow. "Some of your children did not mind you. Early this +morning I found one of them whispering to a sunbeam, and under +the hedge found a tiny blue aster. I shook her till she was so +cold she was glad to go back to bed again. Ha! ha! ha!" and Jack +gave Mother Nature such a hug that she shivered, and murmured: +"Poor babies! I must write a letter to Father Winter." + +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 to his tricks again. Please send me some blankets +soon. + +From your old friend, + +Mother Nature. + +This letter she directed to + +King 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 the North Wind, planning his coming work in +Earthdom, when Autumn Wind arrived with the letter. + +"Deary me! deary me!" said the king, "has Jack Frost gone to +bother Mother Nature? I meant he should wait for me this year. +But something must be done. Ho! Snowflake, come here, and bring +your sisters and brothers with you." + +In a few moments a troop of dainty beings clothed in white came +dancing along. "What do you wish, Father Winter?" they asked. + +"Mother Nature has need of you, my helpers," replied the king. +"You must, stop the next passing cloud, and go down to Earthdom, +and cover up the babies. Jack is there, and they are freezing." + +Just then a golden-edged cloud floated by, and the snowflakes +huddled together on it and were soon travelling earthward. The +sun was setting as they passed the western gate of the city, and +the cloud was tinged with red and gold. By and by it began to +grow dark, and the little cloud grew larger and larger, and +before long the night came. In the morning the little children of +Earthdom were surprised to see a white covering over the land. + +"See the snow, the beautiful. snow" they cried; and the sleds +were brought 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 how glad dear Mother Nature was because her +babies were sleeping safe and warm under the downy snowflake +blankets. + + + +The First Christmas + +Once 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." + + + +The Christmas Star + +Long, long ago, in the blue sky above the hills of Bethlehem, +twinkled the stars. Very early in the morning they would sing +together and would tell each other of what they had seen during +the long night. + +They used to watch the shepherds guarding their flocks upon the +hillsides, and one bright evening star that looked down upon the +earth earlier than the others, would tell stories of little +children whispering their prayers at the twilight hour. One +wintry night a new star came to visit the other stars. It was so +radiant that its rays shone upon the gray hills and made them +light as day. It had come on a wonderful errand. The shepherds +saw it and were frightened at its strange brightness; but an +angel came to them 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 the whole world." + +Then the shepherds heard some singing,--beautiful singing, for a +great many angels had come to tell the good news; and the star +grew larger and brighter, it was so glad. When the angels had +gone back to Heaven, the shepherds said, "Let us go and see this +child." So they left their flocks sleeping on the hillsides, and +took their crooks in their hands and followed the star, which +travelled on and on till it led them to the little stable in +Bethlehem, when the Baby Jesus was cradled in a manger. Then the +star moved 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 it were showing them the way to go. So they, +too, followed the star till it rested above the birthplace of +Jesus. Then the wise men went in and gave their best gifts to the +baby, and they and the shepherds knelt and thanked God for +sending the little Christ Child to be the best Christmas present +the great world ever had. The star watched over them, casting a +peaceful light over 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 first glad Christmas day. + + + +Love's Garden + +There 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. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg etext of Buttercup Gold and Other Stories + diff --git a/old/btrcp10.zip b/old/btrcp10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c082d0e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/btrcp10.zip |