Chapter V

Just then the youngest girl saw a bright light.
She covered her eyes.
When she looked up she was in a beautiful castle.
The old man was gone.
He was now a king’s son.
The three animals had changed to three men.
“You were kind and good to my animals,” said the king’s son.
“So this is your castle.”
Then the youngest girl sent for her father and sisters.
They all lived happily together in the beautiful castle.
JACOB AND WILLIAM GRIMM (ADAPTED).

THE LITTLE PLANT.

In my little garden bed
Raked so nicely over.
First the tiny seeds I sow.
Then with soft earth cover.

Shining down, the great round sun
Shines upon it often;
Little raindrops, pattering down,
Help the seeds to soften.

Then the little plant awakes!
Down the roots go creeping.
Up it lifts its little head
Through the brown earth peeping.

Higher and higher still it grows
Through the summer hours,
’Till some happy day the buds
Open into flowers.
EMILIE POULSSON.

WORK AND PLAY.

Once there was a little girl named Amy.
She liked to play in the garden and hear the birds sing.
She said the flowers and birds talked to her.
One day her mother said, “Amy, you are a large girl now.
You must help me a little.
Every day I will give you something to do.”
“Oh Mother!” said Amy, “I do not like to work.
Please let me go into the woods and play.”
“Yes,” said her mother. “You may go and play.
I have no work for you to do just now.”
So away Amy ran through the pleasant garden into the woods.

II

She saw a pretty squirrel and said,
“Dear squirrel, do you play and eat nuts all day long?
You do not work, do you?”
“Not work?” said the squirrel.
“Why, I am busy now.
I must put these nuts in my nest to eat next winter.
I can not stop to play with you.”
Just then a bee flew by.
“Tell me, bee!” said Amy.
“Have you work to do?”

“Buzz! Buzz!” said the bee.
“I am busy now getting honey from the flowers.
I can not stop to play with you.
Amy walked through the woods.
By and by she met an ant with a piece of sugar.
“I wish you would come and play with me,” said Amy.
“I am too busy to play with you,” said the ant.
“I must carry this sugar home for the little ants to eat.”