346 POPULAR TALES OF FLOWERS 
THE STORY OF THE GOLDEN-ROD 
AND ASTER. 
Two little girls once lived at the foot of the highest hill 
in the world. One little girl had hair as yellow as the 
golden sunshine. The other little girl had eyes as purple 
as the violets of springtime. 
“Do you know who lives at the top of this hill?” 
asked Golden Hair one day. 
“No. Who?” said Blue Eyes. 
“Don’t you really know?” asked Golden Hair. 
“No, I really do not know!” answered Blue Eyes. 
“Well, then, I will tell you,” said the little girl, shak- 
ing out her golden curls. “ Up at the top of this highest 
hill in the world lives an old woman. In her orchard are 
beautiful ripe apples, which anyone may have for the 
picking. In her garden are fluffy-tailed, tame squirrels, 
which one may play with all day long.^ In her cupboard 
are jars and jars of sweet cakes, of which one may eat as 
many as she chooses.” 
“ Oh, let us visit the old woman, ’ ’ said Blue Eyes, 
springing up. 
“But listen,” said Golden Hair. “There is some- 
thing very strange about the old woman. They say she 
can change rabbits into frogs and birds into fish and little 
boys and girls into whatsoever she chooses.” 
“Oh, let us go and see her!” again cried sturdy little 
Blue Eyes. 
“Are you not afraid?” asked Golden Hair. 
“ Oh, no,” said Blue Eyes, “ she would not do us harm, 
for she is kind to the squirrels in her garden. Perhaps 
she will change us into something very lovely. Let us 
go 
So the two little girls set out. Hand in hand they 
travelled up the great hill. There was a curious smoky 
haze in the air; and the sunshine fell through the haze 
in long golden rays. The wind stirred the oak boughs, 
and the acorns dropped to the ground. The golden and 
red leaves fell at every breath. They rustled beneath the 
feet of the children as they walked. 
The mellow apples hung on the boughs, yellow and 
