Aquarian Age Stories for Children
Volume III
Compiled by a Student of
The Rosicrucian Fellowship Teachings
The Rosicrucian Fellowship.
International Headquarters
Mt. Ecclesia
Oceanside, California, U.S.A.
Dedication
A love for children, combined with a sensitivity to the deeper
truths of life, enabled the authors of these stories, which have been published
over a period of years in Rays from the Rose Cross, to express in an
appealing way many phases of the wisdom of Nature. To these friends we
gratefully dedicate Aquarian Age Stories for Children.
Many boys and girls are aware of the "little people"
and other forces of Nature mentioned in these stories. Many others, we hope,
will be encouraged to become acquainted with them through reading this little
volume.
by
Florence Barr
You have all had birthdays and you know how
thrilling it is to open mysterious little packages wrapped up daintily in soft
white tissue paper and tied with gay ribbons. So, little readers, you will all
know just how Rosalie felt on her birthday and how eagerly she unwrapped her
gifts, exclaiming over the surprise that each package held.
The last one to be opened was a little oblong box, different
from the other packages. And when she opened it, you should have heard her
exclaim, "Oh, how lovely!" for there resting on a tuft of soft white
satin were three tiny roses carved out of the daintiest pink coral, and fastened
on a slender gold chain.
"Oh, Grandpa, how beautiful! Where did you get it? Do tell
me all about the dear coral roses."
So Grandpa lifted Rosalie onto his knee and all the children in
the birthday party gathered round to hear the story of the coral necklace.
"Years and years ago - probably thousands of years,"
said Grandpa, "away over in the warm blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea
floated some little creatures, with soft jelly-like bodies, quite like starfish
only very tiny. They were looking for a new home, and finding firm rocks in the
warm, deep sea, they fastened themselves there securely. They had no feet nor
eyes, but through their mouths they drank in drops of sea water, taking in wee
bits of lime, which helped to build their bodies into what looked like tiny
limestone castles. More and more of this floating coral family - related to the
famous polyp family - fastened themselves to the rocks. How firmly they held to
the rocks and how patiently and steadily they went about their work of building,
doing their part in Mother Nature 's sea garden!
"The settlement grew and grew until after a while it had
made quite a high wall. When the bodies of the first families were settled and
turned to stone, then out of this stone seemed to grow little buds - almost like
the tiny leaves seen in the springtime. Now these were the coral children and
quite like other children they were too, for some wandered away looking for a
new home, just as the first settlers had done. But other children never once
tried to loosen themselves from the family, but stayed at home and helped to
build. And so this living wall grew to be very beautiful. It reflected the blue
of the sky, the gold of the sunshine, the rose glow of the sunset, and, yes,
even the bright scarlet of the sunrise. After a while there grew up lovely
forests of coral trees, dainty pink shrubs, and flowers of a deeper hue.
"Nestling within some of the coral walls were tiny lakes,
where brilliantly colored fish sported and darted about, nibbling the soft green
seaweed that caught on the coral branches.
"Sometimes other little sea dwellers teased the coral
family, saying, 'Come out of your houses and float with us.' And the little
coral builders would call back, 'Float away and find your happiness. We can't
come out of our houses for our houses are ourselves. But we make play of our
work and are happy builders for Mother Nature.'
"The little coral builders could not hear as we do, and of
course they could not talk as we do, but the sea dwellers have a language all
their own and understand quite well what the other sea families have to say to
them," explained Grandpa.
"And so, faithfully, hopefully, and lovingly they built a
great coral strand. Of course, it took years and years to build this strand, for
these little builders were so very tiny. The earliest settlers had long since
left their castle-like limestone houses, and their little life sparks had gone
on. But they left their stone houses as a firm foundation for the other coral
mites to build upon.
"Now these happy builders loved the dashing waves and the
splashing spray. And sometimes the undines - the sea sprites - would whisper to
them of other creatures of the sea, telling wonderful tales of Mother Nature's
sea treasures.
"The kind Nature Spirits who work with the great polyp
family helped them with their coral wall and cheered them as they worked. For in
Mother Nature's school it is a rule that those who know how to do things must
help those who arc only learning and they must be patient with them until they
have learned their lessons.
"Mother Nature is very wonderful and into her tender care
the great Father has given the earth and sea children. And Mother Nature guides
and watches over all her little children. She loves them with a great
understanding love and always rewards their faithfulness.
"So the tiny coral builders did not in the least mind it
when in an occasional sea storm the crushing waves would break off a great chunk
of their wall. No, that was a part of the reward they hoped for as faithful
builders. A new experience was theirs then, for kind fishermen carried away
these broken pieces of the coral strand.
"And that brings me to your necklace, Rosalie,"
continued Grandpa.
"One lovely bit of rare pink coral was taken to a jeweler,
who with his loving hands carved these dainty roses. And through their faithful
service in Mother Nature's sea garden the coral builders now bring happiness to
a little girl on her birthday."
Then grandpa clasped the slender gold chain around Rosalie's
soft white throat, saying: "These three pink roses will help you to
remember three of the greatest things in life, Rosalie - faith, hope, and love.
Faith in Mother Nature's understanding heart - hope to be of service as you go
through life's school - and love, love for every living thing.
"As we love the sea creatures, the flowers and animals, and
help them to progress in life, so the Angels and Archangels help us to grow
strong so that we, too, may progress. LOVE is the means by which we grow into
the likeness of the Father in the Land of Love.
'The world is full of roses -
The roses full of dew,
The dew is full of heavenly love
That drips for me and you.'"
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