buttercup gold and other stories(一杯黄金)-第3章
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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
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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。
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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！〃
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〃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！〃
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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。
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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
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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。
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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 goldsomething 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
