THE FORGET-ME-NOT 
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THE STORY OF THE FORGET-ME-NOT. 
One morning, in the golden days of the early world, an 
angel sat just outside the gates of Paradise, and wept. 
“ Why do you weep?’' gently asked one who passed that 
way. “ Surely the world is lovely, and Paradise is so 
near 1” 
“Alas!" said the angel, “I must wait long before I 
may enter Paradise." 
“ Why, ' ’ said the other, “ it seems but a step to the 
gates. Why must you wait?" 
“Look," said the angel, pointing earthward. 
The other looked, and saw a dainty, blue-eyed maiden 
stooping over the grass by a brook-side. 
“ Do you see those tiny blue flowers which she is plant- 
ing?" whispered the angel. “They are as dainty as she 
herself. They are blue as her own eyes. They have 
hearts of gold as true as her own true heart." 
“Why, then, do you weep?" asked the other. 
“Ah," said the angel, “I love the gentle maiden, and 
with her I would have entered Paradise. But, lo, when 
we came to the very gates we were not allowed to enter." 
“Tell me more," said the other. 
‘‘A task was given this earth-maiden," said the angel. 
“ In every corner of the world must she plant this tiny 
blue flower. I may not enter the gates of Paradise with- 
out her. Thus it is that I sit outside and weep." 
“Nay, nay," said the other, “weep not. There is a 
better way than that." Then he whispered in the angel's 
ear. And the angel flew to the earth where the maiden 
stooped over her dainty blue flowers. He came to assist 
her in her task. Hand in hand the angel and the beauti- 
ful maiden wandered over the land. In every corner of 
the earth they planted the blue forget-me-nots. Then one 
day, when the task was done, they sat together beside the 
stream and wove wreaths of forget-me-nots. 
And with garlands of their own flowers about them, the 
angel gathered the beautiful maiden in his arms and car- 
ried her with him to the gates of Paradise. The gates 
swung wide at their coming ; and ever after the angel and 
the maiden whom he loved wandered 'mid fields of happi- 
ness in the land of Paradise. 
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