A little girl went out to pluck flowers one day.
She walked and walked, through tiny lanes, under shady trees and over hills. She saw many flowers; blue, pink, white, small and large, they were very beautiful.
Soon, she realised she was not the only one collecting flowers. There are other children too.
They had beautiful big blue flowers in their baskets, and tiny yellow ones too! They were most breathaking.
She thought, " I must collect the most beautiful flower, I know I can do it!". So, the hunt began.
She walked all over the hill and tried very hard, but the flowers the picked were not as beautiful as the ones in other children's baskets, or so she thought.
So, she gave up finding the prettiest flower, there are more important things to do surely.
She walked and walked. And she saw many animal friends; the brown squirrels, the bluebirds, and those dear little lambs. She went over and talked excitedly to them. Only then she realise, every animal has a different way of talking! The squirrels spoke too fast, the bluebirds would say a few words and fly away, the lambs, oh the lambs! ; they were too quiet for the little girl.
Soon, the little girl realised she was not the only one trying to talk to the animals, other children were too! Just on the meadow next to hers!
She thought, " If they can do it, I can too! I am young and quick to learn." So, the learning began.
She tried to listen and think fast when talking to the squirrels; put crumbs in her hand so the bluebirds will stay a little longer to talk to her; and be as patient as she could while chatting with the dear little lambs.
Oh, but what a tire, what a chore! These animals, she thought, they have their own world, they do not need her. She tried very hard to be likeable to them, but it did not last.
So, she walked and walked. She saw a great big tree. It has strong branches, and the gentle wind was in them, it provided shade to many who passed by. She ran up to the tree and hugged it, crying, " Yes! This is the best tree. I want to live under it's shade always. It is a strong and kind tree, it would like a nice little girl like me to sit under it always too."
But the great big tree said, "Thank you my friend for those kind words. But alas, I have a great many sorrows that a little girl like you would not like to know after you lived long under my shade. So run along!"
The little girl was crushed when she heard what the great big tree said.
So, on she walked.
The Sun asked her, " What made you choose the great big tree? "
She said, " It was strong and kind. "
The Sun replied, " No, that is not why. Think again."
She frowned. Is is not?
Then, a seller came her way.
" Attention! Attention! Selling Attention to all who wants! Ask your heart! Maybe it wants it! Attention!"
The little girl heard the seller's cry and pondered. She asked her heart too.
Yes, maybe she wanted attention when she set her heart to pick the brightest flower; when she tried talking to all the animals and when the great big tree was willing to let her stand under as she passed by. She was delighted, surprised by the attention they gave, was she not? Though bitterly short they were.
The Sun said, " Yes. And things sold, don't last. Walk on little girl, and find something given, not sold. For it shall be gold."
