348 POPULAR TALES OF FLOWERS 
Blue Eyes ; or, if you really wish, you may name them 
Golden-rod and Aster. 
THE STORY OF THE FRINGED GENTIAN. 
The Queen of the Fairies lost her way one night as she 
returned from the dance in the dell. On and on, around 
and around, she wandered; but in no direction could she 
find her home. Poor little Fairy Queen! The world 
seemed big and lonely and very dark; and she was afraid. 
“ If I might only find shelter among these stranger 
flowers!" she thought. “Perhaps they would keep me 
overnight." 
So the Queen of the Fairies came shyly up to a tall 
purple flower bending its heavy head in sleep. 
“ Good flower," cried the Fairy Queen, in her soft little 
voice, “ will you take me in for the night ? I have lost 
my way, and I am very, very tired." 
The purple gentian awoke. 
“Why, you poor little thing," it said, “who are you? 
You are too little to be out in the dark alone. Come up 
here to me. I will cover you over until the sun comes in 
the morning." 
Then the tired little Fairy Queen climbed up to the 
heart of the gentian. It wrapped its fringed purple petals 
snugly about her; and she slept happily all night long. 
When the day dawned she hastened away. As she slipped 
down the stem the fringed purple petals unfurled. The 
Fairy Queen turned and looked up at the flower. 
“You were kind to me when I was in trouble," she 
said. “ I w'ish all the fairies in Fairyland to know where 
they may find a friend in time of need. Hereafter you 
and your children may have the power to open to receive 
the warm sunlight, because all through the night you 
wrapped me so snugly and so safely." 
