Show talie ChIldr exes corner edged by EDMONDS ElM OIVI the flower of egypt it was a sunshiny summer morning in lo 10 long ng ago far away egypt in a garden surrounded by orchards an and d vineyards a little girl was waa playing among the flowers tula tala called lier her mothers voice come here we must mate make garlands garlanda and bouquets tor for our guests who come today tala quickly obeyed me summons she loved to prepare the floral gifts tor for the visitors these were made of different flowers according to the time of blossoming bloss oming sometimes they were violets sometimes roses and again chrysanthemums today the howers flowers were lotus blossoms which one of the slaves hart bad gathered from the pool in the gardin garden tala loved these beautiful water lilies hiles which she had always been told were the flowers of the gods there were two kinds of these blossoms one was white and opened in the evening the other blue with its petals petal s lying expanded tn in the sunshine aalf as if to catch the hue of the sky above tala liked this one better because she could see jt it when she was at play while the white one opened only at night t time ni a while tala worked on the garlands she he asked many questions about her favorite it Is our count rys flower replied her mother the llly lily of the nile and it ts Is honored everywhere 11 when the pleasant task 0 of f garland malting making was finished tola tala and her mother went to the house around the wall outside and within the rooms stood pots of growing plants tala was allowed to arrange some of the lotus blossoms in vases for decoration in honor of the expected company she was dressed in the tha d dress ress embroidered broi brol dered with lotus blossoms bloss am s later when the guests arrived sh ehe e wa watched belied the servants throw the garlands around their necks and offer each a small bouquet to hold in his bis hand when the guests praised the beauty of the flowers tala was greatly pleased jil auSed at the noon meal lotus bread was served r which tula laid always liked she knew that this was made from the seeds of tile 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 talas home she was waa delighted that she was to attend with all the grownup grown up people once more lotus blossoms were brought and tale tala like the others was given a handful to carry with her in the temple site she saw many of these flowers placed before the statues of the gods and she reverently laid her own offering offer lne among them |