They gave her sea-weeds. They gave her pretty stones. "I wish to give you something," said Persephone. "I will give you some flowers." Away she ran to the woods. She forgot what her mamma had said. She saw a large hole in the ground. He took Persephone away with him. By and by her mamma came back. She could not find Persephone. "Where is my little girl?" said she. No one could tell where she was. Persephone's mamma took care of the flowers. She took care of the grass. She helped the corn and wheat to grow. "I will not let anything grow," said she. "Nothing shall grow till I find my little girl." The grass turned brown. The flowers did not grow. The corn did not grow. One day she met Mercury. "Have you seen my little girl?" said she. "I saw Pluto take her away," said he. Pluto took her to his home. His home is down in the ground." Go and tell him to send her back. Tell him nothing can grow till she comes back. I want my little girl so badly." Mercury went to Pluto. You must let Persephone go home to her mamma. Nothing will grow till you let her go." Pluto did not wish to let her go. "She is a nice little girl," said he; 66 "I like to have her with me." Do let her go," said Mercury. Pluto gave Persephone an orange. Persephone swallowed six seeds. "I am glad that you swallowed the seeds," said Pluto. "You must stay with me six months. You must stay one month for each seed. You may go to your mamma now. You may stay six months with her. Then you must come and be with me for six months." The flowers began to grow. The grass turned green. The trees put on their pretty green dresses. “What are you doing? I told you not to grow till Persephone came back," said the mamma. Then she looked up. There stood Persephone. How glad her mamma was to see her! Soon the six months were gone. Persephone went back to Pluto. Her mamma was sorry. She spread a white blanket over everything. It was a snow blanket. She takes off the blanket when Per sephone comes. Everything grows. We say, "Spring has come." |