Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-27
THE ROD OF GOLD.
How the Old Woman Gave the Stick
Fairy Gifts.

Snnhia Brpwn III the Christian Intelligence.
Once upon i time an old woman. VINO
had been walking through a wood carlc
at last TO the open country beyond Just
before her flowed a stream which she
must cross on her way. She seemed
feeble, and when the bank of the river
was reached. she stopped in dread: for
the current was swift ard the stone,
were slippery and unsafe. She glanced
ahout her at the trees. for she must have
help great oak stood near with its
beautiful leaves and many acorns kind
oak. said the old woman, may / have
part OF one of your branches to make a
rod to help me over the stream
Indeed no. cried the oak Il can
not spare single branch. Ny acorns
are far too beautiful to give away
Then the old woman went to a red
maple standing near the oak and said.
viii you be kind to ME and spare me
branch from which ] may make a staff
to carry me over the river?''
''Of course not" said the maple Gould
YOU imagine ! would spare any OF my
beautiful red leaves
The old woman turned sadly away \
chestnut tree stood near. and she APP
pealed 10 IT, Good chestnut, may have
one OF your branches" she asked Eu:
the chestnut tree could not spare a single
nut, and so refused
The sycamore thought her balls too
pretty to part with. and the poplar stood
tall and disagreeabie and would not help
her
The elm dropped languidIy. and told her
she might ask the walnut. And SO it
went; hickory. ash, horse-chestnut and
birch tree all said. No" till the poor
woman, quite discouraged and tired out
sank on a great stone to rest and decide
what was best 10 be done.
At her feet lay stick old and dis
coiored, but straight and strong. 1t
spoke to the old woman and said: Il
am sorry the beautiful trees have been
SO unkind TO You, and l will help you
gladly If | may. You see | have no
beauty; | do not even know to what tree
belong; l have no acorns nor nuts nor
leaves, and even my bark is gone but
am strong. and will gladly take YOU over
the stream.
The old woman picked up the poor rod
at ner feet. and. leaning heavily upon it,
started on her journey across the river
Inc water roared about them, but the
rod bore her in safety to the other side
" men the farther bank was reached a
wonderful thing happened The long
cloak worn by the old woman fell away.
and there she stood, not really an old
woman at all, but a beautiful fairy II
am the fairy OF the woods kind rod :
she said. Il came to see If my trees
We're kind well as beautiful You
have done all in your power for a feeble
old woman. Now what can | do for
you?"
The rod replied. Il should like TO be
beautiful. but most of all | want TO be
loved, especially by the children
You shall have your WISH" said the
fairy. You are worth Your weight in
gold but the rod OF gold would not be
loved by the little ones. I will give TO
you fairy gold instead
She planted the rod III the earth, and
1t at once became green. From it grew
beautiful leaves and many stems ana
over all the fairy scattered millions OF
tiny stars OF fairy gold till the top of
after YOU shall be called 'tGoldenrod =
said the fairy, and every one shall love
you.
What the fairy has said has come to
pass. The lovely goldenrod has been
showing her yellow stars in our meadows
ever since that day.