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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
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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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BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES
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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BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES
〃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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BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES
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 c