344 
POPULAR TALES OF FLOWERS 
across the fields. She commanded the maid to find her 
a place in which to rest. The little maid found a soft 
place on the shady side of a shock of golden wheat, and 
brought cool water from a stream close by. 
As she sat there, the Princess looked far out across the 
fields, and away on the horizon she saw a long, slender, 
black streak of cloud. She sprang to her feet and clapped 
her hands and called loudly to the workmen. From their 
places in the field they came running to do her bidding. 
“See!” cried the Princess, pointing with her umbrella, 
“ a storm is rising. Build me a cabin from your sheaves. 
Be quick 1 I am the Princess ! I am the king’s daugh- 
ter!” 
The workmen sprang to do as she wished. But one old 
man, who had long served her father the king, bowed low 
before the Princess and spoke. 
“Oh, beautiful Princess,” he said, “pardon me, but 
there will be no rain. That is not a rain-cloud. See how 
brightly the sun shines!” 
The Princess screamed with rage. 
“ How dare you?” she cried. “ How dare you? Is not 
the command of your Princess enough? Do you refuse to 
obey?” 
“Your pardon. Princess,” said the old man sadly. 
“ There is not a man in the field but would gladly lay 
down his life to serve the Princess. But your command 
is useless, and the sheaves are precious.” 
The Princess was speechless and white with anger; but 
she still pointed to the dark cloud which was slowly sink- 
ing away. Quickly the reapers built the shelter for the 
Princess. They knew that the good sheaves which they 
wasted might have made bread for their children. There- 
fore it was sadly that the reapers wrought, knowing that 
the long winter would surely come. 
Presently a tiny house was finished. With golden 
sheaves of the ripe grain w’'ere the floors laid. With 
sheaves were the walls built. With sheaves was the roof 
covered. When it was completed the Princess lowered 
her red silk parasol, and, still frowning, passed inside. 
“Come in!” she cried, sharply; and the little maid, with 
tears of pity in her blue eyes, followed. The workmen 
turned again to the uncut grain, and said nothing. 
