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.
EVENING PRIMROSES
While grey was the summer evening
Hast never a small sprite seen