However, a gentle daughter of Mother Earth named Spring, had overheard the proud words of the Snow King and seen the suffering he had caused. She said to herself:
“I, too, have power, and I shall use it to undo the work of my brother, the Snow King.”
So after a while the maiden clothed herself in soft garments, and on her feet she put sandals of flowers, and as she walked sweet perfumes were wafted about her. She breathed upon the air and the snow melted away, the streams resumed their laughter, the trees put forth their leaves, the birds came again to nest in the branches, and the little animals came out of their burrows and began to play about the forest.
“This is beautiful weather,” said every one. “I am glad spring has come, and the awful winter has passed.” And the whole earth smiled because it felt so happy and full of promise.
Then the spring maiden turned to the Snow King and said:
“You see, O King, that I, too, am mighty on the earth—that I have strength equal to yours and can undo all that you have done. My power is even greater than yours, for mine is the power of love.”
SEEDS OF GOLD
Real wealth comes from the soil.