The Contented Pansy

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 5, 1902

The Contented Pansy

THERE is a story told of a certain king who had a large garden, and one day heard all the plants and trees talking together. They were all sad. The oak murmured because it could not bear sweet flowers, the rose lamented because she did not bear luscious fruit like the vine, and the vine was sad because it had to cling to a wall, and could cast no shadow of its own.

“I am no use since I cannot add sweetness to life,” said the oak.

“And I might as well die, as I cannot bear luscious fruit,” sighed the rose.

And the vine, more despondent than all, groaned wearily: “What possible good can I do in the world?”

Then the king looked round and saw a gay little pansy, which looked up and smiled, while all the other plants and trees were sad.

“What makes you so cheerful when all the rest are so gloomy?” he asked.

“I thought,” said the pansy, “that you wanted me here, for you planted me here; and because you planted me, I thought you loved me, so I just made up my mind to try to be the best little pansy that could be.” — Selected.