" and ever as
they reappear, year by year, in the fields and meadows they remind the
little ones of that land that even they can do something "to please the
King of Heaven."

THE SEARCH FOR GOLD

Fairy Tales from Flowerland
THE SEARCH FOR GOLD

"The Marigold, that goes to bed with the sun,
And with him rises weeping."
--_Shakespeare._

ABOUT four hundred years ago travelers returning to Europe brought back
wondrous tales of rich gold mines in the country of Mexico, and after a
while the people of Spain sent an army to fight the Mexicans and rob
them of their riches.

When the Spanish army reached the City of Mexico, which stood in the
midst of a great plain, they were struck with wonder at the beauty and
grandeur of all they saw. Gold seemed to be everywhere.

Gold, gold, gold! But not content with taking what they could get, these
cruel soldiers fell upon the Mexican nobles and put hundreds of them to
death for the sake of the rich jewels they wore.

After this there was a great battle, and the Mexican King was taken
prisoner and shut up in his own palace.

But the brave people of the country were so enraged by the cruelties of
their Spanish conquerors that they would not submit. Battle after battle
was fought, and the people were hunted down like wild beasts.

At last the King was taken out of his prison and placed in front of the
Spanish army, and there in the fierce heat of the fight he was slain.

Soon after the Mexicans fled, leaving thousands of brave men dead upon
the battlefield. Their royal standard of pure gold was captured and
Mexico was conquered. Then the Spaniards returned home, leaving only a
small army to guard the city.

In the following summer the vast plain surrounding the capital, upon
which the last great battle had been fought, was covered with a wealth
of golden blossoms.

Then the Mexicans said, "It is the 'Death-flower.' It has sprung from
the blood of our brothers slain in battle by the cruel Spaniards."

But the Spaniards called them Marigolds, or "Mary's gold," because they
said the mother of Jesus had given them the victory.

THE FLOWER FAIRIES

Fairy Tales from Flowerland
THE FLOWER FAIRIES

"Never tread beneath your feet
Flowers fair and flowers sweet;
Touch us tenderly with care
Flowers sweet and flowers fair."

ONE bright sunny morning little Mae went out into the fields to gather a
bunch of flowers for her mother. She went happily