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+Project Gutenberg Etext of Buttercup Gold, by Ellen Robena Field
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+Buttercup Gold and Other Stories
+
+by Ellen Robena Field
+
+November, 1999  [Etext #1978]
+
+
+Project Gutenberg Etext of Buttercup Gold, by Ellen Robena Field
+******This file should be named btrcp10.txt or btrcp10.zip******
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+
+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
+
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