THE CONCEITED APPLE BRANCH 221 



" Yes, to children they are beautiful," said 

 the apple blossom. 



blunt conceited feathery strong 

 blushed 



By and by an old woman came into the field. 



In her hand she carried a blunt knife. 



She dug out the roots of the dandelion with it. 



With some of them she made tea for herself. 



But others she sold. 



With the money she bought milk and sugar. 



"But beauty is better than all this/' said the 

 conceited apple blossoms. 



Just then the princess came into the room. 



In her hand she carried something that seemed 

 like a flower. 



She covered it carefully from the wind. 



What do you think it was ? 



It was the feathery seed crown of a dandelion ! 



" See," she said, "how beautiful it is ! 



"I will paint it in a picture with the apple 

 blossoms." 



Then the sunbeam kissed again the dandelion 

 and the apple blossoms. 



And the apple blossom blushed. 



Adapted from ANDERSEN. 



