Flower legends for children

The Moss Rose

Reading edition

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 12enjoyed beneath her scented flowers. The rose blushed, and, looking more lovely still, made request that something might be added to her beauty.

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 of butterfly-winged fairies tending to tiny human babies nestled inside large pink tulips in a garden field.

Illustrated story page for 'The Tulip' featuring a black and white sketch of tall tulips framing two blocks of text.