OCR Text |
Show Tfie Children's Coraep Edited by DOROTHY EDMONDS The Flower of Egypt It was a sunshiny summer morning In long ago, far away Egypt. In a garden surrounded by orchards and vineyards, a little girl was playing among the flowers. "Taia," called her mother's voice. "Come here. We must make garlands and bouquets for our guests who come today." Taia quickly obeyed the summons. She loved to prepare the floral gifts for the visitors. These were made of different flowers according to the time of blossoming. Sometimes they were violets, sometimes roses and again chrysanthemums. Today the flowers were lotus blossoms blos-soms which one of the slaves had gathered from the pool in the garden. Taia loved these beautiful water lilies which she bad always been told were the flowers of the gods. There were two kinds of these blossoms. blos-soms. One was white and opened In the evening, the other blue with Its petals lying expanded In the sunshine as if to catch the hue of the sky above, Taia liked this one better because she could see it when she was at play, while the white one opened only at night time. While Taia worked on the garlands she asked many questions about her favorite. "It Is our country's flower," replied her mother, "The 'Lily of the Nile' and it is honored everywhere." When the pleasant task of garland making was finished Taia and her mother went to the house. Around the wall outside and within the rooms stood pots of growing plants. Taia was allowed to arrange some of the lotus blossoms In vases for decoration. In honor of the expected csmpany she was dressed In the dress embroidered em-broidered with lotus blossoms. Later when the guests arrived she watched the servants throw the garlands around their necks, and offer each a small bouquet to hold In his hand. When the guests praised the beauty of the flowers Taia was greatly pleased. At the noon meal, lotus bread was served, which Taia always liked. She knew that this was made from the seeds of the plants, for she had often seen the servants grind it into flour. This was a festival day and there were to be special ceremonies in the temple near Taia's home. She was delighted that she was to attend with all the grown-up people. Once more lotus blossoms were brought and Taia, like the others, was given a handful to carry with her. In the temple she saw many ot these flowers placed before the statues of the gods and she reverently laid her own offering among them. Draw firicNo cowp- y . 4 s Yeuou, -two WliHBOtltS f W FROM ABOUE PfllTErVY f ,P (3) a g CoWR WttUE'i SUIT II ) )( ,9 8 I BLUE. WIH WHITER T-WX a 3 9 ft B6MD5 - wirtme'-s f fsv i DRESS ORflMGE WITH J SREEfiLsPOYi V fy (CopyrlKht.) WNU Service. |