inthecountry,closebythehighroad,stoodafarmhouse;perhapsyouhavepassedbyandseenityourself.therewasalittleflowergardenwithpaintedwoodenpalingsinfrontofit;closebywasaditch,onitsfreshgreenbankgrewalittledaisy;thesunshoneaswarmlyandbrightlyuponitasonthemagnificentgardenflowers,andthereforeitthrivedwell.onemorningithadquiteopened,anditslittlesnow-whitepetalsstoodroundtheyellowcentre,liketheraysofthesun.itdidnotmindthatnobodysawitinthegrass,andthatitwasapoordespisedflower;onthecontrary,itwasquitehappy,andturnedtowardsthesun,lookingupwardandlisteningtothesongofthelarkhighupintheair.

thelittledaisywasashappyasifthedayhadbeenagreatholiday,butitwasonlymonday.allthechildrenwereatschool,andwhiletheyweresittingontheformsandlearningtheirlessons,itsatonitsthingreenstalkandlearntfromthesunandfromitssurroundingshowkindgodis,anditrejoicedthatthesongofthelittlelarkexpressedsosweetlyanddistinctlyitsownfeelings.withasortofreverencethedaisylookeduptothebirdthatcouldflyandsing,butitdidnotfeelenvious."icanseeandhear,"itthought;"thesunshinesuponme,andtheforestkissesme.howrichiam!"

inthegardenclosebygrewmanylargeandmagnificentflowers,and,strangetosay,thelessfragrancetheyhadthehaughtierandproudertheywere.thepeoniespuffedthemselvesupinordertobelargerthantheroses,butsizeisnoteverything!thetulipshadthefinestcolours,andtheyknewitwell,too,fortheywerestandingboltuprightlikecandles,thatonemightseethemthebetter.intheirpridetheydidnotseethelittledaisy,whichlookedovertothemandthought,"howrichandbeautifultheyare!iamsuretheprettybirdwillflydownandcalluponthem.thankgod,thatistandsonearandcanatleastseeallthesplendour."andwhilethedaisywasstillthinking,thelarkcameflyingdown,crying"tweet,"butnottothepeoniesandtulips-no,intothegrasstothepoordaisy.itsjoywassogreatthatitdidnotknowwhattothink.thelittlebirdhoppedrounditandsang,"howbeautifullysoftthegrassis,andwhatalovelylittleflowerwithitsgoldenheartandsilverdressisgrowinghere."theyellowcentreinthedaisydidindeedlooklikegold,whilethelittlepetalsshoneasbrightlyassilver.

howhappythedaisywas!noonehastheleastidea.thebirdkisseditwithitsbeak,sangtoit,andthenroseagainuptothebluesky.itwascertainlymorethanaquarterofanhourbeforethedaisyrecovereditssenses.halfashamed,yetgladatheart,itlookedovertotheotherflowersinthegarden;surelytheyhadwitnesseditspleasureandthehonourthathadbeendonetoit;theyunderstooditsjoy.butthetulipsstoodmorestifflythanever,theirfaceswerepointedandred,becausetheywerevexed.thepeoniesweresulky;itwaswellthattheycouldnotspeak,otherwisetheywouldhavegiventhedaisyagoodlecture.thelittleflowercouldverywellseethattheywereillatease,andpitiedthemsincerely.

shortlyafterthisagirlcameintothegarden,withalargesharpknife.shewenttothetulipsandbegancuttingthemoff,oneafteranother."ugh!"sighedthedaisy,"thatisterrible;nowtheyaredonefor."

thegirlcarriedthetulipsaway.thedaisywasgladthatitwasoutside,andonlyasmallflower-itfeltverygrateful.atsunsetitfoldeditspetals,andfellasleep,anddreamtallnightofthesunandthelittlebird.

onthefollowingmorning,whenthefloweroncemorestretchedforthitstenderpetals,likelittlearms,towardstheairandlight,thedaisyrecognisedthebird'svoice,butwhatitsangsoundedsosad.indeedthepoorbirdhadgoodreasontobesad,forithadbeencaughtandputintoacageclosebytheopenwindow.itsangofthehappydayswhenitcouldmerrilyflyabout,offreshgreencorninthefields,andofthetimewhenitcouldsoaralmostuptotheclouds.thepoorlarkwasmostunhappyasaprisonerinacage.thelittledaisywouldhavelikedsomuchtohelpit,butwhatcouldbedone?