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went to sleep。
One night； late in the fall； Jack Frost came over the hill。 He spied the
cradle swinging to and fro； and began to play roughly with it； for he is a
roguish little fellow； and touches everything that comes in his way。 But the
warm blanket hid the little sleeper so that Jack could not find her。
By and by King Winter came； bringing beautiful snow blankets to
Mother Nature's flower babies。 He gently rocked the cradle as he passed；
and whispered； 〃Sleep； baby； sleep！ You have no need of my blankets。〃
At last Spring came with the sunbeams； the best and merriest of
Mother Nature's helpers。 They awoke the flowers from their long winter
nap； and called to the birds and the brooks to begin their songs。 When they
came to the little brown cradle； they stopped to rest； and Baby Caterpillar
began to get very warm under the thick blanket。 She woke up and
stretched herself； and her cradle broke； and she came out to greet the
Spring。 But what a change！ Instead of the old dingy dress that she went to
sleep in； she now had a beautiful yellow one； and； instead of crawling
among the leaves； she flew up and away into the sweet spring air to play
with the sunbeams and flowers； and the little children called her a
butterfly。
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BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES
Five Little Indian Brothers
Once there were five little brothers living in Farmer Lane's barn。 There
were a great many other children there； too； but these little brothers played
by themselves； and chased each other across the wide floor of the barn
until they reached a corner where there was a large crack； and then they
could look out into the world。 The first thing they saw was Farmer Lane
breaking up the rich brown earth with his plough； for Spring hadcome； and
told him it was time to do his planting； while the little brothers were
watching him； and wishing they could find a way to roll out into the bright
sunshine and help him； something happened。 What do you suppose it was？
A great brown hand came up behind them and in a moment they found
themselves in a wooden measure with many more of their friends。 〃What
is the matter？〃 said one little brother。 〃I don't know；〃 said another。 〃Maybe
we are going to travel；〃 said a third； while the two smallest cuddled very
closely together； and whispered； 〃We won't be afraid； God will take care
of us。〃
The measure was taken； out into the field； where Farmer Lane was still
at work； and soon； into the furrows made by the plow； the little brothers
were dropped one by one。 They lay very still at first。 It was so strange and
dark in their new home。 By and by they found a friend； an earth…worm；
who told them wonderful stories； how God would take care of them； and
some day would give them a new life。 Then the little brothers were glad
and hoped it would be soon。 Thus the days went by。 The warm spring
showers moistened the earth； and the sun shone so brightly that the
brothers danced for joy way down in their dark home。 What do you
suppose happened when they danced？ Why； their old coats split open； and
some little hands came out。 They were helpful hands； too； and went to
work at once。 Some of them went down into the earth to find food and
water for the whole plants； and the others reached upward to the air and
sunshine； and spread out beautiful； long green leaves。
Each day the plants grew taller and taller； and new buds came that
blossomed into flowery tassels that waved over the tops of the plants。
These tassels were fall of a golden dust called pollen； and as the wind
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BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES
blew it to and fro； some of the tiny grains found little green cradles along
the sides of the plants； and crept into them。 There they stayed； growing
strong and round； until one midsummer day the plants were full of ripe；
sweet ears of corn。
When were the five little brothers； do you ask？ Why； they were five
little kernels of Indian corn that Farmer Lane planted one spring morning；
and each beautiful stalk of corn was the new life the earth…worm told them
about。 God had taken care of them； and takes care of of His little children；
too。
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BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES
Buttercup Gold
Did you ever hear of the pot of gold hidden at the end of the rainbow？
Some people think it is there now； but they are mistaken； for a long time
ago somebody found it。 How he happened to find it； nobody knows； for a
great many people have searched in vain； and have never even been able
to discover that the rainbow has any ends at all。 The man who found it was
very selfish and did not want anybody to know； for fear they might want
some of his money。 So one night he put it in a bag； which he slung over
his shoulder； and walked across the fields toward a thick wood where he
meant to hide it。
In the bag was something beside the goldsomething so small that the
greedy man in his hurry had not noticed it。 It was a hole； and； as he walked
on； one by one the gold coins fell out into the grass。 When he reached the
wood and found all of his money gone； he hurried back to search for it； but
something strange had happened。 It was a midsummer night； and the
fairies were having a dance out in the meadows。 They were good； loving
little people； and despised selfishness above everything。 One little fairy
spied the glittering gold among the grasses。 She had seen the greedy man
passing by； and knew he would soon be back to hunt for his treasure。 〃It
will do him no good；〃 she said； 〃if he hides it away； and neither will it help
anybody else。 I will change it into something that will give joy to rich and
poor。〃
When the greedy man reached the meadow he could see no gold
money； but in its place were bright； yellow flowersbuttercup gold for the
children。
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The Raindrops
Up above us； near the Sky Country； in a place called Cloudland； live a
great many little people； called raindrops。 They are very helpful； and
always try to do their best； because they know the great King of Cloudland
has work for them all。 One morning two tiny raindrops were sitting
together looking down at Earthdom。 〃How dusty and hot everything
looks；〃 said one drop。 〃Yes；〃 replied the other； 〃let us go down and see
how much good we can do in Earthdom to…day。〃 So these two little
raindrops called their brothers and sisters and told of their plan； and asked
them to go； too； for they always wanted to share their good time with
others。 〃Let's have a game of tag； and see who will reach the top of that
hill first；〃 said one little drop； and away they scampered。 They ran so fast
that they reached Earthdom at about the same time； and how glad Mother
Nature was to see them。 Some of them went at once to visit the flowers；
and whispered such sweet words to the tired； dusty blossoms； that they
raised their heads again； and thanked the raindrops for the comfort they
had brought。 Some of them slid down the slanting roofs of houses and
filled the wells。 Our two little raindrops with five others； went down into
the brown earth and cheered up the roots。 Then they travelled on； and by
and by they came out again further down the hill； and made a beautiful
spring； around which little children played。 The spring soon helped make a
brook； that flowed down over the hillsides； winding in and out among the
rocks； washing them smooth and round； singing as it rippled on its way。
By and by it met some more brooks and they made a stream。 The
sunbeams loved the clear stream and danced to and fro over its surface； as
it rushed joyously onward； turning the busy mill wheels； and keeping the
grass and flowers alive and beautiful