GOLDEN-ROD AND PURPLE ASTER
Flora J. Cooke
Once upon a time a strange, wise woman lived in a little hut which stood on the top of a hill. She looked so grim and severe that people were afraid to go near her. It was said that she could change people into anything she wished.
One day two little girls who lived at the foot of the hill were playing together. One was named Golden Hair and the other Blue Eyes. After a while they sat down on the grassy hillside to rest.
“I should like to do something to make everybody happy,” said Blue Eyes.
“So should I,” said Golden Hair. “Let us ask the woman who lives on the hilltop 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 long, long walk to the top of the hill. Many times the little girls stopped 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.
The birds were singing in the treetops, and the squirrels were frisking about in the branches. Golden Hair and Blue Eyes stopped to laugh and talk with them.