_Service is the source of happiness._
Once there was a little fairy whose name was Good Luck. She was
known and loved all over the world because she carried Happiness
to every one. This Happiness she carried in an ugly black box, and
though it could only hold a tiny bit, it was always full. Now Good
Luck had to be very careful of her gift, for if she lost Happiness
the world would be very sad.
One night she was very tired. It was very dark and not a star could
be seen. So Good Luck had to hunt a place to hide her treasure.
She thought perhaps the trees would help her, so she asked a pine
tree to hold it while she slept. But he answered: “What, that ugly
little box! No, indeed! I have too many pretty cones to hold.”
The tired little fairy hurried on until she came to a fir whom she
asked to hold her precious gift. But the fir was too busy and
would not bother with it.
Thus each tree gave some excuse. Poor Good Luck was about to cry
when she spied a tree whose branches drooped down to the ground.
“Will you hold my box, little tree?” she cried.
“My branches bend low,” sighed the little tree sadly, “and I am too
ugly to be of much use. I will watch it. Lay it near my trunk.”
Early the next morning Good Luck awoke, and opening her box she
sprinkled a tiny bit on the tree. Then she thanked the kind tree
and flew away. Later the sun was surprised to find the bent tree
straight and its branches reaching up to the skies.
Now, that night a little brown bird came to the branches of that
tree. She told him of Good Luck and her box; but she made a mistake
and told him it was golden when it was black. This little bird was
ugly and the other birds made fun of him. Usually he was too busy
helping others to think of himself, but this night he determined to
find Good Luck and ask her to give him beautiful plumage like the
other birds.
So he started out. One day when he was flying over a brook he saw a
fairy caught in a spider’s web. Quickly cutting the threads he put
her on his back and carried her away. After putting her down he saw
she carried a small black box. The fairy asked him would he carry
it for her. “Yes,” said he. Before flying away he asked her if she
could tell him where he could find Good Luck and her box.
“I am Good Luck,” answered she, “and you have the box of Happiness
on your back--Happiness isn’t always in golden boxes.”
The little bird flew to the brook to see the box, but instead he
saw a beautiful bluebird. And that is how the bluebird got his
color, and why it is such a happy little bird.