Golden-rod And Aster
: Nature Myths And Stories For Little ChildrenGolden Hair and Blue Eyes lived at the foot of a great hill.
On the top of this hill in a little hut lived a strange, wise woman.
It was said that she could change people into anything she wished. She
looked so grim and severe that people were afraid to go near her.
One summer day the two little girls at the foot of the hill thought they
would like to do something to make everybody happy.
"I know," said Golden Hair, "Let us go and ask the woman on the hill
about it. She is very wise and can surely tell us just what to do."
"Oh, yes," said Blue Eyes, and away they started at once.
It was a warm day and a long walk to the top of the hill.
The little girls stopped many times to rest under the oak trees which
shaded their pathway.
They could find no flowers, but they made a basket of oak leaves and
filled it with berries for the wise woman.
They fed the fish in the brook and talked to the squirrels and the
birds.
They walked on and on in the rocky path.
After a while the sun went down. The birds stopped singing.
The squirrels went to bed.
The trees fell asleep.
Even the wind was resting.
Oh, how still and cool it was on the hillside!
The moon and stars came out.
The frogs and toads awoke.
The night music began.
The beetles and fireflies flew away to a party.
But the tired little children climbed on towards the hilltop.
At last they reached it.
There at the gate was the strange, old woman, looking even more stern
than usual.
The little girls were frightened. They clung close together while brave
Golden Hair said, "we know you are wise and we came to see if you would
tell us how to make everyone happy."
"Please let us stay together," said timid Blue Eyes.
As she opened the gate for the children, the wise woman was seen to
smile in the moonlight. The two little girls were never seen again at
the foot of the hill. The next morning all over the hillside people saw
beautiful, waving golden-rod and purple asters growing.
It has been said that these two bright flowers, which grow side by side,
could tell the secret, if they would, of what became of the two little
girls on that moonlight summer night.
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