“Don’t scorn this little flower, Janet, because you say it grows commonly everywhere. The field and roadside blossoms have the greatest mission in God’s flower kingdom. Because they are told to brighten and cheer all climes and creatures. Besides this, the dandelion has a most interesting construction and its great sweetness offers unlimited nectar and pollen to the bees and birds. What would they do without the dandelion?” said Mrs. Tompkins.
Janet felt more resigned at this explanation, and Mrs. Tompkins continued: “The name of dandelion is not the correct one for this sunny blossom, but like so many of our English words it became commonly called the ‘dandelion’ because a foppish young lion of society who was one of the ‘dandies’ of his day, and used the little yellow flower as his symbol. It was used on his linen, his crest, and he always wore one in his button-hole.
“But the real name of the flower was Sun Lion, because of its endurance and powers to withstand overwhelming adversities, and because its face always smiled serenely up at the sun, and turned as the sun moved across the sky, to always keep its eye open towards it. This is what made its fine golden petals radiate from the central point outward—as the sun’s rays shine outward to all.
“The legend that I have heard of the dandelion comes from Indian lore, and the moral is quite simple to understand—never procrastinate.
“The South Wind, who was very fond of wild flowers, took a walk one day through a woods where he became enchanted with the pretty blossoms he found growing there. But he loitered so long that he became drowsy when the sun shone warmly down at noontime. So he found a secluded shady nook and curled up to have a nap.
“When he awoke, he found he had slept through the night and now it was morning again; so he lifted his head and rested it upon his elbow, and gazed delightedly around him. The woods with its admiring blossoms, smiled back at him, and out on the meadows the meek and lowly flowers nodded joyously to greet him.
“As South Wind smiled back at his admirers, he suddenly saw a happy little flower maid out on the meadow, dancing for joy and waving about her a bright sunny cloud of golden hair.
“South Wind was so enchanted by this bright vision that he decided to woo her for his bride. But the sun rose higher and reached noontime, when it shone too warm for South Wind to exert himself very much. So he said he would defer his wooing until the next day. Then he sought the cool and shady nook in the woods and soon fell fast asleep again.
“When he awoke again, it was another day, but still the golden-haired maid was dancing and smiling in the meadow; and the amorous South Wind sighed with sentiment and started to rise and woo the captivating beauty. But again the heat of noonday overcame his good intentions and he dropped back and took one more nap.
“He awoke early on the third morn and jumped up with the determination to go and win the fair maid that day without fail. So he blew himself quickly out of the alluring woods and reached the meadowland where he had watched the golden-haired dancer. As he softly approached the figure which now stood still in the grass, he smiled, for he pictured the greeting such a spirited maid would give him—the South Wind!