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Show DADDY'S EVENING W mm ylHARYGtM.BQNN SPRING BLOSSOMS. "Oil, the glorious forsythia bushes . are out," calle d Nancy to Nick as they were playing In a small park near their home. The day before the forsythia for-sythia bushes had been in bud but today they were out, and how wonderfully wonder-fully they did look ! They told Daddy all about them when they got home and Daddy said, "I must tell you a story about the forsythia for-sythia bushes." "Hurrah,"' shouted the children. "There was once, many years ago, an argument going on between the leaves and the flowers of the forsythia bushes. " 'You are so gorgeous,' said the Leaves to the lovely Yellow Flowers which are indeed like bursts of sunshine. sun-shine. " 'Thank you,' said the Yellow Flowers. Flow-ers. " 'You didn't have to say that,' said the Leaves. 'We didn't mean it in a kindly spirit at all.' " 'Oh,' said the Yellow Flowers and drooped a little. " 'You see all the other Leaves are welcomed by the people. Everyone is happy to see the Leaves come out on the trees.' " 'Of course,' said the Yellow Flowers. Flow-ers. 'That Is only natural. It means that spring is here. Aren't you glad people are happy?' " 'Yes,' said the Leaves. 'But they are not happy about us.' " 'Why?' asked the Yellow Flowers. " 'Because,' answered the Leaves as they shook a little with annoyance and anger, 'the people are not happy about us as they do not notice us.' " 'Oh Leaves, they must !" said the Yellow Flowers. " 'No, they don't,' said the Leaves shaking their heads. " 'Are you sure?' asked the Flowers. " 'Quite,' said the Leaves. "Just then the Fairy Queen came along. She was wearing her gown of pale green which she wears in the early spring and in her hair was a crown of gold made from the forsythia blossoms. " 'Ah, Fairy Queen,' said the Yellow Flowers? "You have done us a great t 1 - She Was Wearing Her Gown of Pale Green. honor to wear the crown we sent you. We are very grateful.' " 'You don't look happy, Leaves,' said the Fairy Queen. 'WThat is the trouble?' trou-ble?' " 'It's very annoying,' said the . Leaves. 'Each time anyone passes here they speak of the glorious flowers of the forsythia bushes and they never speak of the leaves. ' Now other leaves are appreciated in the spring. All except us 1' " 'How foolish you are, Leaves,' said the Fairy Queen. 'You are jealous of the joy that these gorgeous bright blossoms give. They only last for a little time whereas you have a long summer ahead of you. And you know, full well, that we love leaves and green things. But the forsythia blossoms blos-soms are here for such a short time. Aren't you ashamed?' "The Leaves hung their heads and said, 'Forgive us Fairy Queen. We never thought of It in just that way !' " 'I know you didn't,' said the Fairy Queen. 'But I will tell you what I will do. Every year, from now on, when spring comes and it is time for the forsythia blossoms to be out you will act like many of the other trees and .bushes that have blossoms first. You will not come out with the blossoms. blos-soms. But you will come out after. " 'Then there will be no chance for you to be jealous and everyone can enjoy, en-joy, these lovely yellow flowers without with-out dropping little leaves looking cross and very unlike springtime.' "And so, from that day to this, the forsythia blossoms have cojne out -first of all and when thier blooming is over the leaves take their places. And the Fairy Queen had this rule made for all the trees and shrubs with blossoms. blos-soms. Then the Leaves gave pleasure afterward while the pretty flowers for their little while gave happiness. "And this rule has lasted all these years, and it was made so long ago tjbat no one can remember just wheu." |