“But the tulip would not be comforted. It shed its satiny petals and crept down inside its bulb-nest to sleep away its sorrow and disappointment.
“After a time the tulip bulbs were dug up by the gardener and carried away to the cellar to make room for other flowers that would bloom during the summer. In the autumn they were brought out and planted in their bed again, and as it happened, the little red and yellow tulip was put exactly where it had been before. The warm, dark earth snuggled it close to her fragrant bosom and whispered: ‘Sleep well, little tulip, and dream that you are the most beautiful, pale yellow tulip in the world.’
“So the little tulip fell asleep and lo, at the first call of the spring robin it waked, feeling very, very happy.
“‘Go, tell the sky your dream,’ whispered Mother-Earth, and pushed the bulb upward. The tulip shot up a delicate, whity-green stalk through the dark clods,—up, up, until it saw the great, deep-blue sky far above it. The air was sweet and warm and a few early birds were singing. Becoming more and more happy and excited, the little tulip pushed upward and spread its petals to the smiling sky. And lo, they were of the loveliest pale yellow, and shone like the softest velvet!”
Mrs. Hartwell-Jones had ceased her reading for quite a full minute before the children realized that the story was ended.
“Oh!” sighed Jane. “I am so glad that the tulip was happy at last!”
“But what do you suppose made the petals turn?” asked Mrs. Hartwell-Jones.
“Blossoms do change colors, different years. I’ve seen ’em in our own garden,” said Anna Parsons practically.
“Oh, it was because the tulip wanted it so much!” exclaimed Letty.
“Yes, it was because the tulip wanted it; but there are different kinds of wants, Letty, dear. Some people want things selfishly, just because the things would give them pleasure. But the little tulip felt that it had disappointed some one by being the color it was—and so felt that it was not doing its real duty in the world. So, by wishing and hoping and waiting patiently, it got what it wanted. If it had been a person instead of a flower, of course just hoping and waiting would not have been enough. There would have been work to do, as well.