_Showing that a tree must surrender its beautiful flowers in order
to produce useful fruit._
In the land of “Long Ago” lived a beautiful apple tree, or rather
the tree had been beautiful, until a cruel wind and a cold rain
came one night and took her children from her, and the apple tree
wept and let her tears fall with the rain. And no wonder she wept,
for her children were the loveliest pink and white flowers--we call
them apple blossoms, but the old tree called them her children and
loved them dearly.
The sweet Spring fairy saw the grief of the Apple Tree and said:
“Why do you weep, dear Tree? Is there nothing I can do to help
you?” And the tree replied: “Alas, O Fairy! my children have been
taken from me and nothing can comfort me but to have them back. If
you can obtain this boon for me, you are indeed my friend.”
So the Spring fairy said:
“Have patience, dear Tree, and I will speak to my friend, the
Autumn fairy, about your children. Remember, though, that it may
take us all summer to find them, and when they return to you they
may be larger than they were and changed in appearance.”
“They will still be my children, and I shall love them all the
same,” answered the faithful Mother Tree.
Then the Spring fairy went away, and all summer long the poor Apple
Tree waited for the return of her children. Whenever she felt very
lonely or sad she comforted herself by remembering that the good
Spring fairy always told the truth.
At last after her long watch, the Tree was surprised one day to
see some small bright apples on her branches. She felt puzzled for
they looked so unlike the children that she had lost. From day to
day the apples grew larger and more beautiful, but still the poor
Tree wondered if they were really her children. Suddenly the Autumn
fairy stood before her and said:
“Dear Tree, I have been sent by our friend, the Spring fairy, to
restore your children to you. As you see, they have grown larger
and more beautiful since they left you.”
“Indeed, kind Fairy,” the Tree replied, “I was just wondering if
these were really mine. They look so unlike my children who went
away.”
“Wait,” said the Fairy, “and you shall see your children as you
knew them.” So saying the Fairy cut an apple through the middle,
between the blossom end and the stem. Then she held up the halves
and said to the Tree:
“Do you not see your children--the little blossoms--again?”
And sure enough, there in the center of each bright apple was a
dear little flower. And the old tree held all the apples closer as
she thanked the good Autumn fairy for the return of her children.