Once upon a time, says the old legend, the angel whose work on earth was
to guard the flowers, lay down one night to sleep under a rose tree.
With gentle whisperings she lulled him to rest, and through the star-lit
night waved perfumed branches over his head.
Day broke over the shadowy, mist-clad valley, and bars of orange-scarlet
light touched the distant eastern peaks into gold. In the sky above was
the morning star, and the crescent moon hung over all.
When he awoke, refreshed, the angel asked the rose what he could give
her as a reward for the shelter she had given him, and for the sweet
sleep he had enjoyed beneath her scented flowers. The rose blushed, and,
looking more lovely still, made request that something might be added to
her beauty.
[Illustration: Story page illustration showing a winged angel standing
in a storm next to a tall rose plant, with a decorative floral border at
the bottom.]
The angel thought for a moment, wondering if it were possible to make
her more lovely than she already was; and then he threw about her a veil
of transparent fresh green moss, to protect her from the cold winds and
rain, and from that day the moss rose has worn the angel’s gift.
[Illustration: Illustration of butterfly-winged fairies tending to tiny
human babies nestled inside large pink tulips in a garden field.]
[Illustration: Illustrated story page for 'The Tulip' featuring a black
and white sketch of tall tulips framing two blocks of text.]