Buttercup Gold | Page 5

and said: "My children
have had such a nice long rest and it will do them good, for they have a
busy summer before them. It is time to go to work now, and as some of
the babies just won't wake up till they have to, I must send for my
helpers at once." The long days carried her messages, which in our
language would have read something like this:-
My Dear Helpers, Sunbeams, and Raindrops:--
You are needed down here on eurth. It is time to dress my plant
children, and give them work to do. The birds must be called back from
the South, and the cocooons must be opened so that my butterflies can
come out. I shall have to make good soil and get my clover beds ready
for the honey makers. Come at once, as some have been sleeping too
long already. Whisper to the trees as you pass that it is time they were
budding, Be gentle with all, for they are my children, and I love them.
Good-bye, from your Mother Nature
This she directed to the Sunbeams at Blue Sky Park, and the Raindrops
at Cloud Land. When the message reached these little helpers, they
started off at once to obey the call, and the sun gave such a merry laugh,
that Grandma came to the door of the farm house and remarked: "How
warm it is today, quite like spring; I believe I will set out my
geraniums." But just then a silvery voice said: "Wait a little while
longer till we make the ground soft," and pop came a raindrop upon the
dear old lady's nose, and she hurried into the house, saying "What
queer weather we are having! first sun and then rain." Then the
Raindrops and Sunbeams smiled at each other, and danced more
merrily, for they knew what good work they were doing to the great
brown house where the flowers dwell.
The tap, tap, of the Raindrops wake them up, and when they raised
their sleepy heads and felt the warm kisses of the Sunbeams, they were

glad and began to grow. Soft breezes called to the leaves to come out,
and soon the brown coats which the trees had worn all winter were
replaced by new green dresses. Pussy willow and snowdrop were the
first to herald the spring, and crocus and violet soon followed. Out in
the woods blossomed tiny pink and white May flowers. Little seeds
burst off their jackets and sent up green plumes. Then Mother Nature
called her helpers again and told them to search for the lilies, and dress
them in white robes for Easter. And so each beautiful flower came
again--and the birds sang once more, and the children were glad that
spring had come again. The little helpers had done their work well, and
were happy--and every one thanked God for the spring.

Rock-A-By Baby
"Rock-a-by baby in the tree top, When the wind blows the cradle will
rock."
Helena was playing with her dolls under the Maple tree in the garden. It
was the first warm day of spring, and the little girl was glad to be out of
doors again, and to rock her babies to sleep on one of the low branches.
But she was not the only one singing a lullaby that bright sunny
morning, for Mother Nature was singing one, too, and a soft breeze was
gently tucking some little brown cradles to and fro in the tree tops.
Some were very, very small, and others wen larger, but each held a wee
leaf baby, fast asleep. The next time Helena came out to play, the
babies in the treetop were waking up, and she could see them in their
dainty green nightdresses, peeping out at the world. During the next
week they grew a great deal, and one of them crept out of their cradles
which fell down to the ground, leaving the babies still up in the tree
top.
By the time Spring went away, the babies had grown large and strong,
and spread beautiful green parasols to give shade to their friends
through the hot, dusty days of summer. When Autumn came, Mother
Nature gave them a holiday, and how pretty they looked in their gay
gowns as they frolicked with the wind!
Then they said good-by to the Maple tree, and went dancing and
whirling over the fields to meet King Winter. When Helena looked into
their old homes on the tree, she found some more tiny brown cradles,
and knew that in them were new leaf babies that sleep safely til Spring

comes again to visit Earthdom, and wakes each "baby in the tree top."

A Child of Spring
I know a little maiden, She is very