THE LITTLE HEARTSEASE
One morning a king went into his garden for a walk. He noticed that the trees and flowers were drooped and somewhat withered. Turning to a great branching oak tree, his majesty said, "Tell me what has happened to my garden?"
"Sire," moaned the oak tree, "I am most unhappy. See how thick my trunk is and how gnarled and twisted my great branches are. Now the pine tree, which stands at the other end of the garden, is a picture of grace and beauty. How tall and slender the stem is, and what dainty needles—like leaves—adorn the branches."
The king walked on until he came to the pine tree. As he drew near he heard a deep sigh.
"What troubles you, slender pine tree?" he asked.
"Sire," replied the pine, "I've been wishing for many a day that I could bear luscious grapes such as ripen on the vine which trails over the garden wall. To bear rich clusters of purple fruit must, indeed, bring great happiness."
The king walked on until he came to the garden wall where the grapevine trailed. But he saw that the vine was withering and slipping down from the wall.
"What a rich harvest of fruit you bear this autumn!" said the king, going close to the grapevine. But, to his surprise, he heard a deep sigh and the grapevine said, "It is very hard to be obliged to cling to a garden wall for support. I should like to stand erect in the sunlight where all could see my ripe fruit." And the vine looked longingly at a peach tree which stood near.
The king turned down a little winding path, which led to a quieter spot in his garden. There he saw a bright-faced pansy drinkingthe morning dew, and beaming with happiness.
"Heartsease, my brave little flower," said the king, "you seem very cheerful. Tell me what wish you are nursing in that golden heart of yours?"
"Sire," answered the little flower, "my dearest wish is to be the very best heartsease that ever I can."