Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-25
The Roses Fairy Tale.
BY MAY G. RINGWALT.

Mother fretted little rosebud. one
warm summer night. "a stars shining in
my eyes Mother. mosquitoes singing so
loud 1 can't sleep! Mother, won't you tell
me a story?
"Once upon time.' began mother. as
the fullblown rose and the little rosebud
rocked back and forth on the same stem,
there was a rose princess who lived in an
enchanted garden"
"A garden like ours, with a jolly lattice
for little rosebuds to climb?'
Mother nodded. "Only the princess was
too majestic to climb. She lived in green
palace, a stately rose tree. In all the sum-
mer world OF roses there was none so beau
tiful as the princess. and"
II don't believe she was quite so beau
tlful as my mother" tenderly interrupted
the little rosebud.
The full blown rose laid her cheek against
the little rosebuds pink forehead.
please go on. mother. dear"
1.-The princess always wore gowns OF gold.
and for jewels. pearls Of sunlit dew. Nat
urally, 80 lovely a creature had many to
do her homage, but most ardent OF all her
admirers was-whom do you suppose?"
In vain the little rosebud tried to guess.
"a caterpillar!
Not an ugly 'woolly bear caterpillar"
indignant at his attention. spurned him as
a worm and the caterpillar crawled away
in the dust"
poor fellow sighed the rosebud. for
she was sweet. tender-hearted little
thing
"His hopeless love for the princess,
mother sadly continued. was so deep that
life without her seemed worthless and,
stretching himself out on leaf the cater
pillar refused to eat linen somelhihs WILL
derful happened.
I'm your fairy godmother a silvery
voice whispered in his ear. Whatever you
wish can give you II you will but confide
in me-
"At first, the bewildered caterpillar
thought he was dreaming. because he saw
no one not realizing that fairy godmothers
are invisible But soon he was pouring out
his passion for the rose princess. and her
scorn of him on account OF his ugliness
1.-THE silvery voice laughed. Have faith
and patience. and you shall have your
hearts desire. Your rose Is golden prin-
cess of garden: you shall be golden
prince of the air.
"As the silvery voice died away. there
was a prick In the caterpillar's side like
the touch OF fairy wand. and no longer
could he see the bright green leaves about
him; no longer could he see the dazzling
sun above him. for veil Of silky film en-
veloped him. growing denser. fold upon
fold, until all was dark. and the cater
pillar fallen into deep slumber-"
lessly questioned
Indeed no. only under q magic spell.
But when he awoke he had very strange
sensations. Instead Of feeling heavy.
clumsy and cross. he was filled with the
buoyant joyfulness of a bird awakened by
the dawn.
Fly whispered the silvery voice. And
like the same bird he darted forward
"Athrill with the new life. quivering with
fear that he would fall to earth a grovsl-
ing worm, he futtered for rest upon a
nCwer-rimmed fountain In the midst Of the
enchanted garden. There, In the mirror Of
the crystal water, he beheld himself-a
wonderful golden butterfly!
And did he forget the prtncess?' impa-
tiently asked the little rosebud.
Not an instant. From the fountain the
golden prince of the air winged his flight to
the golden princess of the garden. The
beautiful princess was leaning out Of a
window of the green palace gathering sun
beams. And when she lifted her head and
saw the glorious being lowering over her,
she loved him at first sight"
And the butterfly?" the little rosebud
murmured. drowsily.
THE butterfly" concluded mother. "stoop-
ed and kissed the princess upon her fore
head. And every sweet summer day they
loved each other more perfectly. SO that the
two lived happily ever afterward and"
With hushed lips the full-blown rose
rocked to and fro in the soft night breezes
bod Fol %nof oul4