THE APPLE TREE’S CHILDREN
Reading edition
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.