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| An ancient legend tells of a king who walked into his garden one day to find almost everything withered and dying. |
| Speaking to an oak
near the gate, he learned that it was sick of
life because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine. |
| The pine was upset, for it could not bear delicious fruit like the pear tree, while the pear tree complained that it did not have the lovely odor of the spruce; and so it went throughout the entire garden. |
| Coming to a pansy, however, the king saw its bright face full of cheerfulness. "Well, little flower," said the monarch, "Im glad to find at least one that is happy in this discouraging scene." |
| Your majesty, I know Im of small account, but I decided you wanted a pansy when you planted me. If you had desired an oak or a pear tree, you would have put one in my place. Therefore I'm determined to be the best little flower I can be!" |