A LEGEND OF THE PRIMROSE
In a cottage which stood near a large meadow lived a poor woman and her little child Elizabeth. The mother earned a scant living by spinning and weaving. She was not strong and could work for only a few hours at a time.
Each morning after the little girl had swept the cottage she ran to the meadow and gathered a large bunch of golden primroses. They were her mother's favorite flowers and Elizabeth knew that their sunny color brought good cheer to the room where her mother worked.
One fair morning Elizabeth wandered far across the meadows searching for the brightest blossoms. She filled her arms with the sweetest primroses she could find and turned to hasten back to the cottage when she saw standing near her a lovely little creature. Her dress was made from the golden petals of the primrose and so were her dainty shoes. On her head sparkled a tiny crown studded with yellow jewels. She carried a fairy basket which held a number of wonderfully beautiful primroses.
"Elizabeth," said the little creature, speaking in the most friendly way, "I'm the queen of the key-flower fairies. Tell me why you choose daily to pluck our blossoms."
"These are primroses," said Elizabeth, looking at the flowers in her arms.
"Yes, yes, I know that is the name you mortals call them but their proper name is the key-flower," nodded the fairy.
"They are the blossoms mother loves best," said Elizabeth, answering the little creature's first question. "She is not strong enough to walk in the meadow so each day I fill a bowl with primroses and put them near her spinning wheel."
The queen of the key-flowers fairies came close to Elizabeth, took a blossom from her basket, and offering it to the little girl said, "Today I'm going to send your mother a gift. Hold this flower in your hand and walk to the hills on the east side of the meadow. You will find a path all the way bordered with our blossoms. Follow the path carefully until you come to a hillside in which there is a great arched doorway marked out by the pale gold of these flowers. Touch the door gently with this key-flower which I give you. It will open, and you may enter into an enchanted hall."
Elizabeth took the flower which the fairy offered her and the next moment the tiny creature vanished.
Stretching across the meadow Elizabeth now noticed the flower-bordered path which the fairy had directed her to follow. It led to a sunny hillside where the little girl found exactly what the fairy had described—an arched doorway around which grew pale golden primroses in full bloom.
Very gently Elizabeth tapped with her key-flower on the door, which immediately swung open without the least bit of noise.
"Come in," called a silvery voice. And there, standing in a hall marvellously lighted, stood the queen of the key-flower fairies. Elizabeth walked into the enchanted hall. Through a crystal roof the golden sunlight streamed on lovely hanging-baskets filled with brilliant primroses. The floor and walls were covered with rich green moss and the curious furniture was fashioned from pale yellow petals. On the tables stood baskets and vases holding large bunches of primrose blossoms. Their delicious scent filled the air.
"This is key-flower hall," said the fairy.
Then, pointing to some golden chests which stood near the walls she continued, "Your key-flower will unlock those treasure-boxes. Open one of them and see what it holds."
Elizabeth tapped gently with her fairy primrose on one of the boxes. Immediately the lid opened and she saw that the chest was filled with pale golden flower petals.
"You may take home to your mother as many flower petals as you can carry in your apron," said the fairy.
Elizabeth began to fill her apron with the soft golden disks, but, strange to say, she no sooner lifted them from the treasure-chest than they hardened into golden coins.
The fairy laughed merrily when she saw the astonished look on Elizabeth's face. Then, suddenly, again the little creature vanished.
Elizabeth hurried home as fast as she could and gave the fairy's gift to her mother. There was plenty of money to buy all the food and comforts which the poor woman needed to make her grow strong again.
Elizabeth loved to tell her about her adventure with the queen of the primrose fairies and the treasure which the magic key-flower unlocked.