Annie F. Johnston

“ There at the castle gate they bloomed, a strange, strange flower, for on every stem hung a row of little bleeding hearts.
One day the Princess Olga, seeing them from her [Pg 37] window, went down to them in wonderment.
"What do you here?" she cried, for in her forest life she'd learned all speech of bird and beast and plant.
"We bloom for love's sweet sake," they answered. "We have sprung from the old Flax-spinner's gift—the necklace thou didst break and scatter. From her [Pg 38] heart's best blood she gave it, and her heart still bleeds to think she is forgotten." ”

“ For Youth is ever but another title for Ingratitude."
"Nay, friend," the old Flax-spinner said. "My little Olga will not be ungrateful and forgetful." [Pg 4]
All hedged about with loving care, the orphan grew to gracious maidenhood, and felt no lack of father, mother, brother or sister. In every way the old Flax-spinner took their places. But many were the sacrifices that she made to keep her fed and warmly clad, and every time she went without herself that Olga might receive a greater [Pg 5] share, Wiseacre Oak looked down and frowned and shook his head. ”

“ Never a heart can come to harm, if the lips but speak the old dame's charm."
The voice of the night [Pg 30] wind sounded so much like the voice of the old Flax-spinner, that Olga was startled and looked around wonderingly. Then suddenly she seemed to see the thatched cottage and the bent form of the lonely old woman at the wheel. All the years in which the good dame had befriended her seemed to rise up in a row, and out of each one called [Pg 31] a thousand kindnesses as with one voice: "How canst thou forget us, Olga? ”