Page:Fairy tales and other stories (Andersen, Craigie).djvu/340

328 dandelion plant, and pulled it up out of the ground. With some of the roots she intended to make coffee for herself; others she was going to sell for money to the druggist.

'But beauty is a higher thing!' said the Apple Tree Branch. 'Only the chosen few can be admitted into the realm of beauty. There is a difference among plants, just as there is a difference among men.'

And then the Sunbeam spoke of the boundless love of the Creator, as manifested in the creation, and of the just distribution of things in time and in eternity.

'Yes, yes, that is your opinion,' the Apple Branch persisted.

But now some people came into the room, and the beautiful young countess appeared, the lady who had placed the Apple Branch in the transparent vase in the sunlight. She carried in her hand a flower, or something of the kind. The object, whatever it might be, was hidden by three or four great leaves, wrapped around it like a shield, that no draught or gust of wind should injure it; and it was carried more carefully than the Apple Bough had been. Very gently the large leaves were now removed, and lo, there appeared the fine feathery seed crown of the despised dandelion! This it was that the lady had plucked with the greatest care, and had carried home with every precaution, so that not one of the delicate feathery darts that form its downy ball should be blown away. She now produced it, quite uninjured, and admired its beautiful form, its peculiar construction, and its airy beauty, which was to be scattered by the wind.

'Look, with what singular beauty Providence has invested it,' she said. 'I will paint it, together with the Apple Branch, whose beauty all have admired; but this humble flower has received just as much from Heaven in a different way; and, various as they are, both are children of the kingdom of beauty.'

And the Sunbeam kissed the humble flower, and he kissed the blooming Apple Branch whose leaves appeared to blush thereat.