On the edge of the forest stood a tiny plant. It was only six inches
tall.
The ground around it was so cold and hard that it could not grow
taller. It had stood there many years, sad and sorrowful.
“Grow and be beautiful,” said the forest sternly, but the plant did not
grow.
“Do you not wish to grow?” said the blue jay. Then he began to tell the
little plant how lazy and useless it was. But his words went into one
ear and out of the other.
Still the plant did not grow.
“Grow! grow!” roared the wind. “Grow tall and straight. I will teach
you to obey. Grow! grow!”
Then the wind lashed the tiny plant with its cold wings, and beat its
branches to the ground. But the poor thing came near dying and did not
grow at all.
“Do grow,” said the sun. “Grow and be beautiful. I will help you.”
Then the sun warmed the earth around the plant, and gentle showers fell
on it from the clouds.
[Illustration]
Now the little twigs began to grow, and the tiny plant became a
beautiful birch tree, with green leaves and snow-white bark.
—_Anna von Rydingsvärd._