Follow this site English children all know the story of Una and the Lion. Red Indian children have a story very similar to it. Here it is especially for you.
Once upon a time there was a beautiful girl, who belonged to the Blackfoot tribe, called Sits-by-the-door. She was her parents darling, and she had many friends. Her heart was filled with gratitude to the Great Spirit for the beauty of the Earth and the love of her fellow people.
But one day the tribe moved camp. First went a party of warriors in single file, then came the women and children, and more wariors brought up the rear. Suddenly a party of Crow Indians sprng out in the middle of the line. They seized many of the women and the children, while there comrades shot down the first Blackfoot warriors who sprang to the rescue. They then made off swiftly with their captives, Sits-by-the-door was among them. It was a long, painful journey to the Crow camp along the Yellowstone river, and at every step the prisoners thought of the terrors that lay ahead of them. When they arrived some were killed, while others were made slaves.
Sits-by-the-door was given to a very cruel man who ill used her terribly. Every night he tied her wrists and ankles together to make sure she couldn't escape. But his old wife was a good woman and she was good to the young girl whenever she got the chance. However the old man got fed up of Sits-by-the-door and told his wife that he was going to kill her when he returned from hunting. The old wife told Sits-by-the-door and promised her that if her husband spared her till the night passed, she would help her to escape.
The indian returned from his days hunting, he was very tired and after gulping down his supper he fell asleep. The old woman then kept her promise and cautiously untied the girls bonds. Apart from setting her free, she also gave her a flint, a bag of pemmican and a pair of moccasins. Sits-by-the-door wasted no time in running as fast and as far from the Crow camp as possible. At night she ran through the woods, and although it was adding to the cold, the snow hid her tracks. Through the day she lay hidden awy from danger, then as soon as night fell she was off again. Days passed, her moccasins were in threads, and her store of pemmican was exausted. Soon she began to weaken from hunger, she could only go a short tway at a time. Then came the thing she had been dreading, the sound of footsteps following her. At first she thought it might be a warrior but then she shivered as she realised it was a great grey wolf, and it was quickly gaining on her.
Sits-by-the-door began to run, but it was no good she was too tired and she dropped to the ground in despair. She watched and waited for the wolf to spring, but nothing happened. The wolf was in front of her and instead of attacking her, he lay down by her feet. Of course it didn't take Sits-by-the-door to realise that this was no ordinary wolf but an animal that had been sent by the Great Spirit to protect and watch over her. "Oh brother wolf !" she exclaimed, "I am so dreadfully hungry!" Instantly he bounded off in search for food. Realising now that she was far enough away from the Crow Camp, she decided to light herself a small fire and she set about collecting some brushwood, this she kindled with the flint and some dry moss, then lay down by the fire to get warm. Before long the wolf return and in his mouth was a small fawn which Sit-by-the-door cooked and shared with the wolf. From its skin she managed to fashion herself a pair of moccasins, something she'd been taught to do from a very young age. Her feet and boddy warm again she lay back down and slept fearlessly, guarded faithfully by her new friend.
In this way the two travelled for several more days until they found their way back to the Blackfoot Tribe and her parents. Can you imagine how happy they were to see their daughter who they felt sure to have been tortured and perished in the fire. Sits-by-the-door was very,very tired and although at first she seemed alright, within a few hours of her return she collapsed and fell very ill. Everyone had been told by the young girl how the wolf had saved her life, and none of the tribe would hurt him but the indians dogs did not like this stranger and as soon as everyone was looking after the child, the dogs chased the wolf away. He didn't go far though and the villagers took scraps of food for him so he wouldnt go hungry and slowly but surely Sits-by-the-door recovered, yet it seems that the great grey wolf knew of his friends recovery for after showing himself to her one last time he turned and was on his way back to the Great Spirit to await his next trial. Sits-by-the-door recovered fully and lived a very long and happy life. There was some legends that said that after this happening the Blackfoot Tribe started to call the Milky Way, the Wolf Trail.... I wonder!
The Princess Cornflower Diaries.
One of the many story's by Hans Christian
Andersen, this one I have decided
fits well with
the Princess Cornflower and her friends, for all
the
Googlenoks are named after the wild
flowers and grasses, as you may
have already
noticed. There is a new Peppercorn Green story
coming out after I
get back from Canada.
Little Ida's Flowers
“My
poor flowers are quite dead,” said little Ida, “they were so pretty
yesterday evening, and now all the leaves are hanging down quite
withered. What do they do that for,” she asked, of the student who sat
on the sofa; she liked him very much, he could tell the most amusing
stories, and cut out the prettiest pictures; hearts, and ladies
dancing, castles with doors that opened, as well as flowers; he was a
delightful student. “Why do the flowers look so faded to-day?” she
asked again, and pointed to her nosegay, which was quite withered.
“Don't
you know what is the matter with them?” said the student. “The flowers
were at a ball last night, and therefore, it is no wonder they hang
their heads.” “But flowers cannot dance?” cried little Ida. “Yes
indeed, they can,” replied the student. “When it grows dark, and
everybody is asleep, they jump about quite merrily. They have a ball
almost every night.” “Can children go to these balls?” “Yes,” said the student, “little daisies and lilies of the valley.” “Where
do the beautiful flowers dance?” asked little Ida. “Have you not often
seen the large castle outside the gates of the town, where the king
lives in summer, and where the beautiful garden is full of flowers? And
have you not fed the swans with bread when they swam towards you? Well,
the flowers have capital balls there, believe me.” “I was in the
garden out there yesterday with my mother,” said Ida, “but all the
leaves were off the trees, and there was not a single flower left.
Where are they? I used to see so many in the summer.”
“They are
in the castle,” replied the student. “You must know that as soon as the
king and all the court are gone into the town, the flowers run out of
the garden into the castle, and you should see how merry they are. The
two most beautiful roses seat themselves on the throne, and are called
the king and queen, then all the red cockscombs range themselves on
each side, and bow, these are the lords-in-waiting. After that the
pretty flowers come in, and there is a grand ball. The blue violets
represent little naval cadets, and dance with hyacinths and crocuses
which they call young ladies. The tulips and tiger-lilies are the old
ladies who sit and watch the dancing, so that everything may be
conducted with order and propriety.”
“But,” said little Ida, “is there no one there to hurt the flowers for dancing in the king's castle?”
“No
one knows anything about it,” said the student. “The old steward of the castle, who has to watch there at night, sometimes comes in; but he
carries a great bunch of keys, and as soon as the flowers hear the keys
rattle, they run and hide themselves behind the long curtains, and
stand quite still, just peeping their heads out. Then the old steward
says, ‘I smell flowers here,’ but he cannot see them.”
“Oh how capital,” said little Ida, clapping her hands. “Should I be able to see these flowers?”
“Yes,”
said the student, “mind you think of it the next time you go out, no
doubt you will see them, if you peep through the window. I did so
to-day, and I saw a long yellow lily lying stretched out on the sofa.
She was a court lady.”
“Can the flowers from the Botanical Gardens go to these balls?” asked Ida. “It is such a distance!”
“Oh
yes,” said the student “whenever they like, for they can fly. Have you
not seen those beautiful red, white, and yellow butterflies, that look
like flowers? They were flowers once. They have flown off their stalks
into the air, and flap their leaves as if they were little wings to
make them fly. Then, if they behave well, they obtain permission to fly
about during the day, instead of being obliged to sit still on their
stems at home, and so in time their leaves become real wings. It may
be, however, that the flowers in the Botanical Gardens have never been
to the king's palace, and, therefore, they know nothing of the merry
doings at night, which take place there. I will tell you what to do,
and the botanical professor, who lives close by here, will be so
surprised. You know him very well, do you not? Well, next time you go
into his garden, you must tell one of the flowers that there is going
to be a grand ball at the castle, then that flower will tell all the
others, and they will fly away to the castle as soon as possible. And
when the professor walks into his garden, there will not be a single
flower left. How he will wonder what has become of them!”
“But how can one flower tell another? Flowers cannot speak?”
“No,
certainly not,” replied the student; “but they can make signs. Have you
not often seen that when the wind blows they nod at one another, and
rustle all their green leaves?”
“Can the professor understand the signs?” asked Ida.
“Yes,
to be sure he can. He went one morning into his garden, and saw a
stinging nettle making signs with its leaves to a beautiful red
carnation. It was saying, ‘You are so pretty, I like you very much.’
But the professor did not approve of such nonsense, so he clapped his
hands on the nettle to stop it. Then the leaves, which are its fingers,
stung him so sharply that he has never ventured to touch a nettle
since.”
“Oh how funny!” said Ida, and she laughed.
“How
can anyone put such notions into a child's head?” said a tiresome
lawyer, who had come to pay a visit, and sat on the sofa. He did not
like the student, and would grumble when he saw him cutting out droll
or amusing pictures. Sometimes it would be a man hanging on a gibbet
and holding a heart in his hand as if he had been stealing hearts.
Sometimes it was an old witch riding through the air on a broom and
carrying her husband on her nose. But the lawyer did not like such
jokes, and he would say as he had just said, “How can anyone put such
nonsense into a child's head! what absurd fancies there are!”
But
to little Ida, all these stories which the student told her about the
flowers, seemed very droll, and she thought over them a great deal. The
flowers did hang their heads, because they had been dancing all night,
and were very tired, and most likely they were ill. Then she took them
into the room where a number of toys lay on a pretty little table, and
the whole of the table drawer besides was full of beautiful things. Her
doll Sophy lay in the doll's bed asleep, and little Ida said to her,
“You must really get up Sophy, and be content to lie in the drawer
to-night; the poor flowers are ill, and they must lie in your bed, then
perhaps they will get well again.” So she took the doll out, who looked
quite cross, and said not a single word, for she was angry at being
turned out of her bed.
Ida placed the flowers in the doll's bed,
and drew the quilt over them. Then she told them to lie quite still and
be good, while she made some tea for them, so that they might be quite
well and able to get up the next morning. And she drew the curtains
close round the little bed, so that the sun might not shine in their
eyes. During the whole evening she could not help thinking of
what the student had told her. And before she went to bed herself, she
was obliged to peep behind the curtains into the garden where all her
mother's beautiful flowers grew, hyacinths and tulips, and many others.
Then she whispered to them quite softly, “I know you are going to a
ball to-night.” But the flowers appeared as if they did not understand,
and not a leaf moved; still Ida felt quite sure she knew all about it. She
lay awake a long time after she was in bed, thinking how pretty it must
be to see all the beautiful flowers dancing in the king's garden. “I
wonder if my flowers have really been there,” she said to herself, and
then she fell asleep. In the night she awoke; she had been dreaming of
the flowers and of the student, as well as of the tiresome lawyer who
found fault with him. It was quite still in Ida's bedroom; the
night-lamp burnt on the table, and her father and mother were asleep.
“I
wonder if my flowers are still lying in Sophy's bed,” she thought to
herself; “how much I should like to know.” She raised herself a little,
and glanced at the door of the room where all her flowers and
playthings lay; it was partly open, and as she listened, it seemed as
if some one in the room was playing the piano, but softly and more
prettily than she had ever before heard it.
“Now all the flowers
are certainly dancing in there,” she thought, “oh how much I should
like to see them,” but she did not dare move for fear of disturbing her
father and mother. “If they would only come in here,” she thought; but
they did not come, and the music continued to play so beautifully, and
was so pretty, that she could resist no longer. She crept out of her
little bed, went softly to the door and looked into the room. Oh what a
splendid sight there was to be sure!
There was no night-lamp
burning, but the room appeared quite light, for the moon shone through
the window upon the floor, and made it almost like day. All the
hyacinths and tulips stood in two long rows down the room, not a single
flower remained in the window, and the flower-pots were all empty. The
flowers were dancing gracefully on the floor, making turns and holding
each other by their long green leaves as they swung round. At the piano
sat a large yellow lily which little Ida was sure she had seen in the
summer, for she remembered the student saying she was very much like
Miss Lina, one of Ida's friends. They all laughed at him then, but now
it seemed to little Ida as if the tall, yellow flower was really like
the young lady. She had just the same manners while playing, bending
her long yellow face from side to side, and nodding in time to the
beautiful music. Then she saw a large purple crocus jump into the
middle of the table where the playthings stood, go up to the doll's
bedstead and draw back the curtains; there lay the sick flowers, but
they got up directly, and nodded to the others as a sign that they
wished to dance with them. The old rough doll, with the broken mouth,
stood up and bowed to the pretty flowers. They did not look ill at all
now, but jumped about and were very merry, yet none of them noticed
little Ida. Presently it seemed as if something fell from the
table. Ida looked that way, and saw a slight carnival rod jumping down
among the flowers as if it belonged to them; it was, however, very
smooth and neat, and a little wax doll with a broad brimmed hat on her
head, like the one worn by the lawyer, sat upon it. The carnival rod
hopped about among the flowers on its three red stilted feet, and
stamped quite loud when it danced the Mazurka; the flowers could not
perform this dance, they were too light to stamp in that manner.
All
at once the wax doll which rode on the carnival rod seemed to grow
larger and taller, and it turned round and said to the paper flowers,
“How can you put such things in a child's head? they are all foolish
fancies;” and then the doll was exactly like the lawyer with the broad
brimmed hat, and looked as yellow and as cross as he did; but the paper
dolls struck him on his thin legs, and he shrunk up again and became
quite a little wax doll. This was very amusing, and Ida could not help
laughing. The carnival rod went on dancing, and the lawyer was obliged
to dance also. It was no use, he might make himself great and tall, or
remain a little wax doll with a large black hat; still he must dance.
Then at last the other flowers interceded for him, especially those who
had lain in the doll's bed, and the carnival rod gave up his dancing.
At the same moment a loud knocking was heard in the drawer, where Ida's
doll Sophy lay with many other toys. Then the rough doll ran to the end
of the table, laid himself flat down upon it, and began to pull the
drawer out a little way. Then Sophy raised himself, and looked round
quite astonished, “There must be a ball here to-night,” said Sophy.
“Why did not somebody tell me?”
“Will you dance with me?” said the rough doll. “You
are the right sort to dance with, certainly,” said she, turning her
back upon him. Then she seated herself on the edge of the drawer, and
thought that perhaps one of the flowers would ask her to dance; but
none of them came. Then she coughed, “Hem, hem, a-hem;” but for all
that not one came. The shabby doll now danced quite alone, and not very
badly, after all. As none of the flowers seemed to notice Sophy,
she let herself down from the drawer to the floor, so as to make a very
great noise. All the flowers came round her directly, and asked if she
had hurt herself, especially those who had lain in her bed. But she was
not hurt at all, and Ida's flowers thanked her for the use of the nice
bed, and were very kind to her. They led her into the middle of the
room, where the moon shone, and danced with her, while all the other
flowers formed a circle round them. Then Sophy was very happy, and said
they might keep her bed; she did not mind lying in the drawer at all.
But
the flowers thanked her very much, and said,– “We cannot live long.
To-morrow morning we shall be quite dead; and you must tell little Ida
to bury us in the garden, near to the grave of the canary; then, in the
summer we shall wake up and be more beautiful than ever.” “No,
you must not die,” said Sophy, as she kissed the flowers. Then the door
of the room opened, and a number of beautiful flowers danced in. Ida
could not imagine where they could come from, unless they were the
flowers from the king's garden. First came two lovely roses, with
little golden crowns on their heads; these were the king and queen.
Beautiful stocks and carnations followed, bowing to every one present.
They had also music with them. Large poppies and peonies had pea-shells
for instruments, and blew into them till they were quite red in the
face. The bunches of blue hyacinths and the little white snowdrops
jingled their bell-like flowers, as if they were real bells. Then came
many more flowers: blue violets, purple heart's-ease, daisies, and
lilies of the valley, and they all danced together, and kissed each
other. It was very beautiful to behold.
At last the flowers wished each other good-night. Then little Ida crept back into her bed again, and dreamt of all she had seen.
When
she arose the next morning, she went quickly to the little table, to
see if the flowers were still there. She drew aside the curtains of the
little bed. There they all lay, but quite faded; much more so than the
day before. Sophy was lying in the drawer where Ida had placed her; but
she looked very sleepy.
“Do you remember what the flowers told
you to say to me?” said little Ida. But Sophy looked quite stupid, and
said not a single word. “You are not kind at all,” said Ida; “and yet
they all danced with you.” Then she took a little paper box, on which
were painted beautiful birds, and laid the dead flowers in it. “This
shall be your pretty coffin,” she said; “and by and by, when my cousins
come to visit me, they shall help me to bury you out in the garden; so
that next summer you may grow up again more beautiful than ever.” Her
cousins were two good-tempered boys, whose names were James and
Adolphus. Their father had given them each a bow and arrow, and they
had brought them to show Ida. She told them about the poor flowers
which were dead; and as soon as they obtained permission, they went
with her to bury them. The two boys walked first, with their crossbows
on their shoulders, and little Ida followed, carrying the pretty box
containing the dead flowers. They dug a little grave in the garden. Ida
kissed her flowers and then laid them, with the box, in the earth.
James and Adolphus then fired their crossbows over the grave, as they
had neither guns nor cannons.
END
The Princess Cornflower Diaries
Many years ago when I was a little girl, my mother Queen Pepper told me this story. It was called "Soft Water" and it was about a princess like myself. I am not sure but I think it was written by a lady named Elizabeth Fleming but I may be mistaken anyway here it is.
Soft Water
The good King's daughter had no soft water, had no soft water to wash her face, forth went footmen and forth went pages, to look for water in every place.
They crawled up mountains, they crept down tunnels, they felt the waterfalls everywhere; They spied on houses with water-barrels, but no soft water was hidden there.
The Princess wept when they came to tell her, of fruitless searching and labours vain. "How can I wash if I have no soft water? And what shall I do if it doesn't rain? The youngest page boy awoke right early, and went out walking at break of day, and high on a hill he found a dewpond, a little round dewpond tucked away.
He went on his knees and peeped in the dewpond; Mist lay over it white as milk; he dipped his hands and the ice cold water ran through his fingers as Soft as Silk!
He filled his goblet and sought the Princess; The poor little Princess wept with joy, and told the King, and the King said, "Splendid!" And made him the Prince's whipping boy.
As
you may already know if you have been to Seligor's Castle I live in
Peppercorn Green with my Mother and Father, Queen Pepper and King
Pepper, they live in the castle of Peppercorn Green. I am a Googlenok Princess and the strange thing about being a Googlenok is we are all named after wild flowers. Diddily lives in Wales you know, and she has a garden full of wild flowers and birds. She also has a a couple of foxes that visit and many strange night creatures. I have a feeling you may be meeting some of these in my dairy entries. Right I must away now to my bed. My best friend Ann Night, night then, see you tomorrow same time, same place and I'll tell you how my day went.
Sleep tight, hope the bug's don't bit Carline is coming early in the morning and with it being almost Easter we want to train for the Easter Pony Regatta over in Oaklandshire the home of my Uncle Basil and Aunty Lavender, they just happen to be the King and Queen of Oakland. It should be a great time, can't wait. e. xxxx HRH the Princess Cornflower
Enigma Variations
For 5/6yrs How many 3 letter words can you make out of; Cinderella. 18 - 22 - average - more than 22 - brilliant
********
For 6/7yrs How many 4 letter words can you make out of; Snow-white. 15 - 20 average - more than 20 brilliant
******** For 8 +yrs How many four letter words or more can you make out of; Cornflower
23 - 28 average - more than 28 - brilliant
no plurals or capitals - try not to use the dictionary results at bottom of page, you might even find more than me. Let me know if I've left some out please? :-)
Diddily only spent ten minutes on each, you can take longer. Good Luck
The Princess Cornflower Diaries
Hello again, I hope you're all keeping well. I would like to introduce you to my bestest friend Miss Ann Carline, we have been friends since we were very young. We are just off to the stables. See you later. Cornflower xx
Well it's now just gone twenty past nine and I am very tired, we had the most wonderful day let me tell you all about it. It all began this morning when Ann came round to call for me at the castle-
"Oh my goodness you have arrived early, I know I said we'd get going early but I didn't mean 7.30 , the birds haven't long been up and I haven't fed the chickens yet." Cornflower was hanging out of her bedroom window. The sun was shining and you could tell it was going to be a beautiful day. "Early you said, not dinner time you said" Ann, Cornflower's best friend answered. "You were the one who wanted to set off early, come on down, I bet you haven't even had your breakfast yet." Cornflower shook her head, a huge smile crossed her face. "I bet you haven't had any either have you?" she laughed. "I bet you've come this early so that you can have some of my mum's Peppercorn Marmalade. Ann Carline laughed. "Now would I do that?" "Yes you jolly well would, come on in, get Daniel to take you through to Cathy, I can smell the toast cooking from here. I'll be down before you can say " Pop goes the weasel." And true to her word the princess was downstairs before Cathy had finished putting the butter on the toast, Peppercorn Butter from the Peppercorn cows of course. "And where may I ask are you two young things off to so early in the morning?" Cathy Fern asked the girls as they drank their tea and layered much marmalade on their toast. "Oh were only taking the ponies out for a run towards the Marshlands border, there are a few good fences going that way and we need the practice before the Easter Show Miss C." Ann said with her mouth full, tut tut. "The Marshlands Border eh!" Queen Pepper asked, "I don't want you two girls going into the Marshlands you know.... Not after what happened last time you went that way." (Journey into Christmas) Oh Mum, that was before Christmas and we we're on the train, we are going on our ponies." Queen Peppercorn frowned one of her "Hm m m " frowns. "Are just the two of you going, the gang of you won't be together I hope?" "Oh Mum." How can you say that we don't deliberately, get into bother I mean. Hey mum it's usually dads fault, well it was at Christmas." "Come on you two stop arguing, I want to get the bacon on for the King coming home." Cathy said, whilst she made tidy the table "The train is due it at 8 .30. Here you go your highness, have a nice cup of tea whilst the girls get their pony stuff ready." Cathy put a fresh cup of tea in front of the Queen. If there was anything to make the Queen relax it was a nice cup of tea. March 16th 2008
The girls left the castle and wondered over to the stables, they found the ponies all ready for them to ride. "Barnaby where are you, did you do this for us?" Barnaby Nettle came creeping, laughing out of the stables. "Oh Barny you are a wonderful," both girls cried together. "Thankyou so much." Barney just tipped his hat, picked up his pails and with a big wink left the girls to go off to there practise.
It was almost lunch time when Princess Cornflower and Ann reached the Marshlands Border. They decided to have their food early and after tying their ponies to the fence they sat down and ate the wonderfuul packed lunch Cathy had ready for them. Button, Ann's pony seemed a little restless and the girls took them a little further along the fence. "I wonder what is wrong with them? "Ann frowned, "Even Shadow seems a little restless." "Hm m I've no idea," Cornflower replied looking all around to see if anyone was about. She hesitated before adding, "and don't you dare mention the beast or I'll scream." Both girls fell about laughing as they thought about Christmas. "I can't believe we were so frightened!" Cornflower laughed. "Nor me, I never did get even with that Marcus, but one...." ................ She stopped talking. Did you hear anything?" "Anything sort of like a baby crying you mean?" "Yea, that's what I mean!" Both girls stood up and quietly tied the ponies back up. They stood very quiet and somewhere beyond the ditch the cry sounded again. Cornflower shook her head "Nah, I think we're hearing things, were just thinking about the last time." "You're probably right Princess," Ann replied, "come on let's head back to the castle." she shuddered and the sound came again, this time it was louder and more frightening. "OK. and now what. We promised we wouldn't get into any trouble, we know the Marsh is still boggy after all the rain we've had... so what do we do Ann?" "We go back to Sleepy Hollow and stop the train when it comes through at one o'clock. Come on it's only just twelve thirty, we'll make it." Ann was already untying the ponies as she spoke. "Let's go then" Cornflower said mounting Shadow, and both girls were on their way back to Sleepy Hollow and the Peppercorn Express.
Will the girls make it in time? Will the train be early? What is it that's crying in amongst the Marshes?
17th March 2008
The girls rode with great speed back to Sleepy Hollow. "Do you think we will make it to the station before the train Cornflower?" "I do hope so Ann, I don't fancy chasing after it." In the distance they both heard the sound of the trains whistle. "Oh my goodness that must be it going into the tunnel just before the station. We're not going to make it after all. I think we better drop down towards the railway lines." Cornflower pulled at Shadows reins and veered off towards the lines, followed closely by Ann. Once more they heard the sound of the train as the whistle warning Thomas that the train was ready to leave. The Peppercorn was on her way to the Marshlands crossing and the girls had to stop it before it went to far down the line. They reached the fence just as the train came round the bend. "We've done it Ann! Cornflower screamed over the sound of the engine. "Dad, Dad stop the train." she screamed at the top of her voice. But King Pepper just waved and pulled on the whistle cord. "Dad please stop the train! DADDY STOP, STOP PLEASE STOP!" It was all to much for Ann she tried to stand up in the saddle, at the same time trying to wave her arms to get the Kings attention and next minute she was falling. Cornflower screamed and at the same time Thomas pulled on the communication cord as he watched Ann start to fall. King Pepper brought the Peppercorn Express to a jerky halt. Thomas was out of the guards van and running towards Ann, who lay very still on the ground. Cornflower held on to the two ponies and King Pepper knelt down the other side of Ann who was just waking up. "Ouch" she cried, "Oh my blinking ankle, I think I've broke it." "Try to stay still if you can, for goodness sake girls what where you doing chasing after the train like that?" "Oh my goodness haven't you told them yet Cornflower?" "You're joking we were more worried about you." "But what about the baby, the beast may have got her by now." "The beast! a baby! Good gracious girls what on earth are you waffling about." The King and Thomas asked together. "We were trying to stop you dad, before you went past the Marshlands." "We had been exercising our ponies for the weekend, and we stopped for.." Ann stopped to groan whilst Cornflower sighed and carried on not explaining. "I'll make it easy, It doesn't matter, just come on we have to get back to the Border crossing and quick, there's a baby in the Marshes." "How can you be sure, did you see it?" "Of course we didn't see it, we promised mum we wouldn't go over the fence but we can't leave it there dad, come on , now, pleeasse." "And what about young Ann, we can't leave her here, can we now?" Of course not Daddy, we'll shove her on the train." She sighed and sounded just like her Mother," the King thought and frowned. Alright, alright. Do you think you can carry her to the train Thomas?" "No problem your Highness," Thomas said and lifted Ann gently into the train, which by now had several worried passengers hanging out of the window's. "Are you all right my dear," The Major said in his deep voice. "You didn't half come a cropper, best take her back to Peppercorn straight away I should say." "No , No, we have to go and save the baby." Ann cried out! The major scratched his head and wondered off down the track. "I will walk back to Sleepy Hollow and get help, if that's alright with you Captain." King Pepper nodded his head and leaving Ann in the capable hands of Merle Hop, the little train made its way towards the Marshland border. Later on the following day.
Looking back on it now, I think we got a little carried away. As I write this I think to myself, who on earth would leave a baby in the Marshes. The answer of course was nobody. I think you may have guessed already. It's the middle of March, the sheep have been lambing for a month now and it just so happened that "Our Baby" turned out to be the plaintive cry of a lamb who'd lost its mother in the marsh. Naturally we got an awful telling off from my mother and Cathy , even Daniel and Barny gave us a bad look for the rest of the day. The major phoned for Sam's taxi, to take both girls back to the castle. Then Dr Cornel came out and bandaged Ann's ankle. It was a sprain not a break thank goodness. Dad, the Major , Mrs Hop and Thomas went on to Oakland...... And me? Well Ann was too weak to move so we're sitting here finishing off the diary entry and then were going to play with our Barbies. See you all tomorrow, No adventures for a couple of days, Ann has to rest her foot. Have fun and don't get into trouble. He, he, he. Loves and hugs Cornflower and Ann. xxx
The Songbirds of Dreamland
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The Princess Cornflower Diaries.
Wednesday
It seems ages since I wrote anything in here, well a bit every day but nothing that would be exciting enough to share with anyone else. The day after Ann sprained her ankle we stayed up in the bedroom all day playing games, watching TV, a few DVD's and we even had a quick go on the playstation but Cathy came up and made us go to sleep. This was the routine for the next week or more. Ann stayed the whole week then Mrs Hop and Christina were going to have here over at thier place . Ann was all excited because her dad was going to be there as well and everyone one was hoping that Henry Carline and Merle Hop were going to become husband and wife soon. They had been seeing each other for ages. Ann and her dad had moved to Peppercorn Green when Ann was very small. that is why Cornflower and her were such good friends. But over the last twelve months the friendship between Heny and Merle Hop had grown into something more, with a lot of encouragement from Ann and Christina obviously. Now that will be a special day to write in my diary.
Thursday
Hi there, it's just gone 9pm and the rain has been coming down in buckets all day. Mum and Dad went out and ordered some garden furniture for outside the patio doors leading into the palace kitchen. It had been so warm they thought it would be nice for Cathy to have a rest on. Personally I think a rain barrel would have been a better idea. Ha, ha. However something funny did happen today. The girls all decided to come round for the day and we got to talking about the Peppercorn Olympics last year and after a lot of persuasion and promising that we would tidy up the kitchen after us we made ourselves some hotdogs for our dinner followed by toffee apples. These are my best friends,
Ann, Cornflower, Jody, Kayleigh, Heledd, Sarah
Cathy helped us with the recipe and getting everything out of the cupboards that we needed. Then the fun began, why not travel over to Seligor's Castle at http://seligorscastle.zoomshare.com/special dayin the shire.htm where you can read the full adventure of the princess and the First Peppercorn Olympics.
Diddily only spent ten minutes on each, you can take longer. Good Luck
Words for Enigma Variations
3 letter words from - Cinderella.
ace ail ale all and are air cad can car den din die ere ell era ear eel ire ice ill lid lad lea lee lei nee red ran rid.
4 letter words from - Snow - white.
hewn hine hint hone hose host into nose newt note nowt snow stew sown sten shin stow shot snot swot show this tone twin thin when with wine whet west went wish wise .
My mum, Queen Pepper saw what I had written about her and her purple hair and she said I have already made her an old lady, which isn't true folk's, she was only joshing :). Anyway she asked me would I put this poem on here for her. Of course I told her I would, so here it is. We'll have my dad here next, does anyone know a poem about an old king with long ginger hair and beard and a moustashe. Oops I'll end up being grounded if I'm not careful.
Your Princess Cornflower. xxx WHEN I'M A LITTLE OLD LADY
When I'm a little old lady Then I'll live with my children and bring them great joy. To repay all I've had from each girl and boy I shall draw on the walls and scuff up the floor; Run in and out without closing the door.
I'll hide frogs in the pantry, socks under my bed. Whenever they scold me, I'll hang my head. I'll run and I'll romp, always fritter away The time to be spent doing chores every day.
I'll pester my children when they are on the phone. As long as they're busy I won't leave them alone. Hide candy in closets, rocks in a drawer, And never pick up my clothes from the floor.
Dash off to the movies and not wash a dish. I'll plead for allowance whenever I wish. I'll stuff up the plumbing and deluge the floor. As soon as they've mopped it, I'll flood it some more.
When they correct me, I'll lie down and cry, Kicking and screaming, not a tear in my eye. I'll take all their pencils and flashlights, and then When they buy new ones, I'll take them again.
I'll spill glasses of milk to complete every meal, Eat my banana and just drop the peel. Put toys on the table, spill jam on the floor, I'll break lots of dishes as though I were four.
What fun I shall have, what joy it will be to Live with my children.... the way they lived with me!
on a time there was a beautiful girl, who belonged to the Blackfoot tribe, called Sits-by-the-door. She was her parents darling, and she had many friends. Her heart was filled with gratitude to the Great Spirit for the beauty of the Earth and the love of her fellow people.
Soon she began to weaken from hunger, she could only go a short tway at a time. Then came the thing she had been dreading, the sound of footsteps following her. At first she thought it might be a warrior but then she shivered as she realised it was a great grey wolf, and it was quickly gaining on her.
heads.”
as the
king and all the court are gone into the town, the flowers run out of
the garden into the castle, and you should see how merry they are. The
two most beautiful roses seat themselves on the throne, and are called
the king and queen, then all the red cockscombs range themselves on
each side, and 
bow, these are the lords-in-waiting. After that the
pretty flowers come in, and there is a grand ball. The blue violets
represent little naval cadets, and dance with hyacinths and crocuses
which they call young ladies. The tulips and tiger-lilies are the old
ladies who sit and watch the dancing, so that everything may be
conducted with order and propriety.”
student, “mind you think of it the next time you go out, no
doubt you will see them, if you peep through the window. I did so
to-day, and I saw a long yellow lily lying stretched out on the sofa.
She was a court lady.”
wings to
make them fly. Then, if they behave well, they obtain permission to fly
about during the day, instead of being obliged to sit still on their
stems at home, and so in time their leaves become real wings. It may
be, however, that the flowers in the Botanical Gardens have never been
to the king's palace, and, therefore, they know nothing of the merry
doings at night, which take place there. I will tell you what to do,
and the botanical professor, who lives close by here, will be so
surprised. You know him very well, do you not? Well, next time you go
into his garden, you must tell one of the flowers that there is going
to be a grand ball at the castle, then that flower will tell all the
others, and they will fly away to the castle as soon as possible. And
when the professor walks into his garden, 
there will not be a single
flower left. How he will wonder what has become of them!”
“Can the professor understand the signs?” asked Ida.
“How
can anyone put such notions into a child's head?” said a tiresome
lawyer, who had come to pay a visit, and sat on the sofa. He did not
like the student, and would grumble when he saw him cutting out droll
or amusing pictures. Sometimes it would be a man hanging on a gibbet
and holding a heart in his hand as if he had been stealing hearts.
Sometimes it was an old witch riding through the air on a broom and
carrying her husband on her nose. But the lawyer did not like such
jokes, and he would say as he had just said, “How can anyone put such
nonsense into a child's head! what absurd fancies there are!”
droll, and she thought over them a great deal. The
flowers did hang their heads, because they had been dancing all night,
and were very tired, and most likely they were ill. Then she took them
into the room where a number of toys lay on a pretty little table, and
the whole of the table drawer besides was full of beautiful things. Her
doll Sophy lay in the doll's bed asleep, and little Ida said to her,
“You must really get up Sophy, and be content to lie in the drawer
to-night; the poor flowers are ill, and they must lie in your bed, then
perhaps they will get well again.” So she took the doll out, who looked
quite cross, and said not a single word, for she was angry at being
turned out of her bed.
one in the room was playing the piano, but softly and more
prettily than she had ever before heard it.
h what a
splendid sight there was to be sure!
nt saying she was very much like
Miss Lina, one of Ida's friends. They all laughed at him then, but now
it seemed to little Ida as if the tall, yellow flower was really like
the young lady. She had just the same manners while playing, bending
her long yellow face from side to side, and nodding in time to the
beautiful music. Then she saw a large purple crocus jump into the
middle of the table where the playthings stood, go up to the doll's
bedstead and draw back the curtains; there lay the sick flowers, but
they got up directly, and nodded to the others as a sign that they
wished to dance with them. The old rough doll, with the broken mouth,
stood up and bowed to the pretty flowers. They did not look ill at all
now, but jumped about and were very merry, yet none of them noticed
little Ida.
ed round and said to the paper flowers,
“How can you put such things in a child's head? they are all foolish
fancies;” and then the doll was exactly like the lawyer with the broad
brimmed hat, and looked as yellow and as cross as he did; but the paper
dolls struck him on his thin legs, and he shrunk up again and became
quite a little wax doll. This was very amusing, and Ida could not help
laughing. The carnival rod went on dancing, and the lawyer was obliged
to dance also. It was no use, he might make himself great and tall, or
remain a little wax doll with a large black hat; still he must dance.
Then at last the other flowers interceded for him, especially those who
had lain in the doll's bed, and the carnival rod gave up his dancing.
At the same moment a loud knocking was heard in the drawer, where Ida's
doll Sophy lay with many other toys. Then the rough doll ran to the end
of the table, laid himself flat down upon it, and began to pull the
drawer out a little way. Then Sophy raised himself, and looked round
quite astonished, “There must be a ball here to-night,” said Sophy.
“Why did not somebody tell me?”
but for all
that not one came. The shabby doll now danced quite alone, and not very
badly, after all.
ning we shall be quite dead; and you must tell little Ida
to bury us in the garden, near to the grave of the canary; then, in the
summer we shall wake up and be more beautiful than
ever.”
e flowers: blue violets, purple heart's-ease, daisies, and
lilies of the valley, and they all danced together, and kissed each
other. It was very beautiful to behold.
nd dreamt of all she had seen.
when my cousins
come to visit me, they shall help me to bury you out in the garden; so
that next summer you may grow up again more beautiful than ever.”
He filled his goblet and sought the Princess; The poor little Princess wept with joy, and told the King, and the King said, "Splendid!" And made him the Prince's whipping boy.
and birds. She also has a a couple of foxes that visit and many strange night creatures. I have a feeling you may be
Enigma Variations
haven't even had your breakfast yet."
And true to her word the princess was downstairs before Cathy had finished putting the butter on the toast, Peppercorn Butter from the Peppercorn cows of course.
border, there are a few good fences going that way and we need the practice before the Easter Show Miss C." Ann said with her mouth full, tut tut.
wrong with them? "Ann frowned, "Even Shadow seems a little restless." 
"Do you think we will make it to the station before the train Cornflower?"
"The beast! a baby! Good gracious girls what on earth are you waffling about." The King and Thomas asked together.
"No , No, we have to go and save the baby." Ann cried out! The major scratched his head and wondered off down the track. "I will walk back to Sleepy Hollow and get help, if that's alright with you Captain." 
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then Mrs Hop and Christina were going to have here over at thier place . Ann was all excited because her dad was going to be there as well and everyone one was hoping that Henry Carline and Merle Hop were going to become husband and wife soon. They had been seeing each other for ages. 
What fun I shall have, what joy it will be to