Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-19

u
other. Try as they might, however,
they could find no trace Of She three
children. Behind bushes and under
thickets, in the wood and the tail
meadow grass, they looked with
care. but finally they were forced to
return TO the cottage and tell the
anxious mother that they could find
them nowhere.
DO not weep" said the little
Princess, laying her hand on the
good woman's arm, surely no harm
can have befallen them. They will
no doubt return at any moment"
The Princess and the monkey
finished their meal as quickly as
possible and went out again to the
roadside to watch for the children.
Come, I will pick you a rose"
said the good woman, trying tn hide
the tears that were falling from
her eyes, FOR | know you love
roses"
Then she and the little Princess
and the pet monkey turned from
the roadway into the little gate and
entered the garden. A narrow
pebhiy patti, wound In and out
among the flower beds, 50 they
went In single file toward the three
beautiful roses. rs il not loyely7"
asked the good woman leaning
over the nearest rose. And with a
sudden movement she leaned
over and kissed the beautiful lower.
while her tears fell upon the trem-
bling petals. But before she had
time to pluck it from the bush It
turned into one of her little children.
With glad cry the child threw its
arms ar0und the mothers neck,
promising over and over again never
to be disobedient again. But the
good woman could hardly wait to
give a kiss in return, So anxious
was she to press her lips against
the petals Of the other two roses.
There was great happiness In the
small flower garden after this, and
the children, after a short cry and
MANY embraces, were most inter-
ested in their two visitors, especially
the monkey.
Come" said the good woman,
Your supper is still waiting"
I'VE will come, too, il we may"
said the little princess, laying her
hand on one curly head, and the
monkey knowingly took the lead, so
that the three children eagerly fol-
lowed him into the house.
AS tn supper neared its end the
good woman looked up suddenly
and asked, "But how did it come to
pass that you were changed Into
rosesr for In the excitement and
Joy at recovering her children she
had forgotten the strange eirchm-
stances.
''Twas a little old woman who
made US into roses" cried the lit
tlest boy. Eyes, she asked Us why
we were crying, and we told her
because we had been disobedient
and that our mother had told Us not
to come home until we were good"
Eyes" interrupted his brother.
land ! said I didn't want to be good,
and that ] would rather stay away;
so she said: I will change YOU into
roses, SO that you may see how sor-
rowful your poor mother will be
when you do not return this even
ing.
And then we began to cry" said
the elder child, "but before we could
run. away, we found Ourselves roses
growing out in our own garden
1T must have been the little old
woman we saw, said the princess,
turning to her pet monkey.
did she have a very crooked
nose?" asked the iittlest boy
"And did her chin turn up tili Il
almost touched it7" asked the next
child.
"And was her hair in a long white
braid" asked the girl, land were
her eyes black as Goals aud bright
as diamondsr
Eyes" answered the princess,
turning to each child ii answer to
the question.
"And she hobbied along on q
cruteh," added the monkey.
Yes" cried ali the chiidfen al
once, "she did"
At that moment the little old
woman herself appeared. The chill
dren chung in terror TO their moth-
er's skirt, while the little princess
caught hold Of the monkey for pro-
"Fear not" said the little Old
woman in a kindly voice. "Alps
well that ends we'll returned 10
find out whether the three roses
we're to sleep in the garden or in
their feather BEDS AT this the
children grew holder and lost much
IF their fear And the little prin-
,ess turned to the little old woman
md said, II am sure you would not
nave let them remain roses all
through the long night"
Bless you, no, replied the old
woman, with a twinkle in her black
Eyes. Bless you. no. But ! am
glad it was the mothers kiss OF for
gipeness that made them good little
again"
so am l. replied the little prin-
,ess In a whisper, st makes me re-
Iiember how often my dear mother
,issed me in loving forgiveness"
And here the little wilful princess
actually began to cry. II ieel quite
lomesick," she sobbed.
There. there" said the little old
woman, don't cry" and turning 10
he mother OF The three little chill
lfen, she said, take the little prin-
ess into your cottage and pas her
o bed with your own dear children.
or she is far from her home and
ouely."
THAT | win gladly do, answered
he good woman, and placing her
....., f,.,-st, e.f.4 ! ttot.F 8ka Y.tfa. 49,