THE ROSE GARDEN
by Amy Ella Blanchard
Tina's Magical Flight
Tina was sleepy. She held her fan. A soft song came to her. “I must go to Sunset Land,” sang Sunny. “Goodbye, Tina. Goodbye.” Tina slept more. She woke up. Sunny was gone. The fan was in her hand. A new face was on it. The face had wings. The wings fluttered. A pretty butterfly flew out. “Follow me!” said the butterfly. Tina flew after it. She was flying! Birds joined them. “Am I a bird?” Tina asked. “No time for questions!” said the butterfly. They flew to a forest. “I must go now,” said the butterfly. “Find the snow. Then come back.” The butterfly flew away. In the forest, birds were sad. “Our nest is knocked down,” they chirped. “A thing did this.” “We will find it,” said the birds. They all flew north. It grew cold. More birds joined them. They landed on the snow. A strange beast came. It looked like a cat and a snake. The birds made loud noises. They flapped their wings. The beast was surprised. “Help us!” the birds cried to Tina. Tina picked up a small twig. She waved it at the beast. The beast got scared. It ran away. “Hooray!” cheered the birds. “Now to the Rose Garden!” They flew to a warm place. It smelled like flowers. The butterfly was there. “You did well,” it said. “Welcome to the Rose Garden.” It was pretty. Roses were all around. Birds and butterflies flew about. Tina smiled. She was in the Rose Garden with friends. It was a magic place.
Original Story
THE ROSE GARDEN.
Tina thought she had slept some time when she heard a voice singing:
“I must go, I must go,
To the Sunset Land;
Where the golden rivers
Roll on golden sand;
And the purple mountains,
With their peaks so bright,
Tower up by mansions
Built of clouds of light.
Sleep, Tina, sleep,
The rivers are deep!
I’ll away,
I’ll not stay!
Fare you well!
37“Fare you well! Fare you well!
I must go, ’tis late;
And I see opened wide,
The sunlit gate
Of that beautiful land,
Where the cloud shapes stand,
With their robes wind-blown,
When the sun goes down.
Dream, Tina, dreams
Of those golden gleams.
Think of me,
When you see
The Sunset Land.”
But it was some time before she could wake up at all, and then she saw that the little boy had gone, and she was lying with the fan in her hand.
“I don’t remember having this with me,” she said; “but I suppose I must have taken it, or it wouldn’t be here. I wonder where Sunny has gone; it is too bad I couldn’t get to the Sunset Land after all. That must have been he singing 38to me. But how this fan came here is a mystery to me. There is another face, of course. I knew it. I wonder how this is going to turn out? It looks like a girl, but I’m not so sure that it is. It has a ruffle around its neck—no it isn’t a ruffle. I believe it has wings.”
The wings fluttered, and something flew out.
“Why, you’re a butterfly,” said Tina.
“I know it,” said the creature. “You might as well say to a horse, you’re a horse. Everybody knows I am a butterfly. I don’t see anything so very peculiar in my being a butterfly.”
“Well, you needn’t be so snappish,” said Tina. “I didn’t suppose you were going to take my head off. I’m sorry I spoke.”
“Oh, well, come along,” said the butterfly; and Tina was amazed at finding herself flying through the air after the butterfly.
“I should like to know what I am,” she thought; “but I don’t dare ask any questions—the butterfly has such an unpleasant manner.”
40They went flying along, and presently Tina heard the rushing of wings behind, and she saw they were joined by four birds; one of them flew close by Tina. “I wonder if I am a bird?” thought she. “I believe I will ask. Am I a bird?” she said.
“What a question!” answered the bird; “as if you didn’t know. How could you fly, if you were not a bird?”
“I might be a butterfly,” said Tina.
“So you might,” said the bird. “I never thought of that; but you are not, all the same.”
“Then, I suppose I must be a bird,” thought Tina. “I am glad I know.”
It was delightful to go skimming along through the air, and Tina came to the conclusion that to be a bird was better than to be a little girl.
“Where are we going?” she asked the bird, who was flying by her side.
“No one but the butterfly knows,” said the bird.
41Pretty soon they came to a forest. “I can go no further with you,” said the butterfly. “I must go find the rose before its petals drop. If you reach the snow in time, turn around and come back! I will be there.”
Then it flew away, and Tina and the other birds went on into the forest. As they went on, they heard sounds of distress, and they saw among the branches of a tree two birds whose nest had been overturned, and the eggs broken. They all gathered around, and asked the pair what had happened.
“He has been here,” said they, chirping pitifully.
“Come with us,” said the birds. “We are going to the North Country, and we can find him. After that we will all be happy in the Rose Garden.”
So the birds went with them, and they all rose up over the tops of the trees, and flew through the air to the north.
42It grew colder and colder. Every now and then other birds would join them, when they heard where they were going; and by the time they reached the snow there was a large flock of them.
Tina wondered what they were all going to do, when they all settled down on the snow-covered ground.
There were buildings and trees about; and after a great deal of chattering, some of them flew up on the branches, and others on different places, where they all seemed to be waiting for something.
Finally, they all looked at each other, and said, “Here he comes!”
Tina looked too, and saw a strange creature coming toward them. It looked something like a cat, and something like a snake. She could not tell which it was.
At once there was a great flutter and stir among the birds, and they all flew furiously at the creature.
44Tina thought it must be the one that had ruined the eggs, as she saw the pair of birds whose nest it was, seeming very angry.
She joined the others, and they began to battle with the creature, who was so taken by surprise that it did not know what to do.
They pecked at its eyes, they beat it with their wings. At last they all flew up on a tree, and looked at Tina.
“What am I to do?” she said. “You seem to expect something of me.”
“Finish it!” said they. “Finish it!” they all screamed.
“How can I?” said she.
“You know,” they said. “You know best; go on.”
Tina stood still for a moment, and then she picked up a little twig, and flew toward the beast.
It seemed to be greatly afraid when it saw her, and as she waved the twig before its eyes, it sank back and closed them.
46There was a scream of delight from the birds, and they all gathered around her twittering and singing.
“Now, to the Rose Garden,” said they, and they flew off, with Tina in their midst.
As they went on, the air grew warm and balmy, and the perfume of flowers became stronger. Soon they saw a row of marble pillars, white as snow.
They all alighted, and the butterfly flew toward them.
“You have done well,” it said to Tina. “Welcome to the Rose Garden.”
Tina looked around and saw that she was in the most enchanting place. Myriads of beautiful birds flew about; butterflies of every hue darted here and there, and there were roses—roses everywhere.
It seemed like Fairy-land; and Tina thought it must be, when she saw she still had the fan, and a little fairy face was looking at her from another slat.
Characters
Tina ★ protagonist
Small and light enough to fly as a bird, but her human form is not explicitly described. She is likely of average build for a child, with no distinguishing marks mentioned.
Attire: Not explicitly described in human form, but likely simple, comfortable clothing appropriate for a child of the late 19th/early 20th century, perhaps a simple dress or frock. As a bird, she has feathers.
Wants: To understand her surroundings, to follow the adventure, and ultimately to help others and reach the Rose Garden.
Flaw: Initial uncertainty and self-doubt about her identity and abilities, leading to hesitation.
Transforms from a confused, questioning child into a confident, heroic figure who saves the day and earns her place in the Rose Garden.
Curious, observant, slightly timid (initially), adaptable, courageous (when facing the beast), and empathetic (concerned about the distressed birds).
Sunny ○ minor
A little boy, otherwise undescribed. Implied to be ethereal or dream-like.
Attire: Not described.
Wants: To guide Tina towards the Sunset Land/Rose Garden, or perhaps to simply sing his farewell before departing.
Flaw: His ephemeral nature, he cannot stay.
Introduces the concept of the Sunset Land and then departs, leaving Tina to her journey.
Mysterious, gentle, guiding, and perhaps a bit melancholic as he sings of leaving.
The Butterfly ◆ supporting
A butterfly with wings that flutter, and a face that appears on Tina's fan. Its size is large enough for Tina to follow it while flying.
Attire: Its wings are its 'wardrobe', described as having a ruffle around its neck (which Tina later identifies as wings).
Wants: To find the rose before its petals drop and to guide Tina to the Rose Garden.
Flaw: Its somewhat abrasive manner can be off-putting.
Acts as a guide for Tina, leading her to the forest and then reappearing at the Rose Garden to welcome her.
Snappish, impatient, knowledgeable, and ultimately a wise guide.
The Birds ◆ supporting
Various types of birds, including a pair whose nest was ruined. They are capable of flight and gathering in a large flock.
Attire: Their natural plumage, varying by species.
Wants: To find and punish the creature that destroyed the nest, and to reach the Rose Garden.
Flaw: Unable to defeat the beast on their own, requiring Tina's help.
They gather, seek justice, and then celebrate their victory and arrival at the Rose Garden.
Supportive, communal, empathetic (to the distressed pair), vengeful (towards the beast), and celebratory.
The Beast ⚔ antagonist
A strange creature, described as looking something like a cat and something like a snake. It is large enough to be a threat to birds and to be battled by a flock.
Attire: Its natural form, no clothing.
Wants: Implied to be destructive, perhaps seeking food or simply causing mischief.
Flaw: Vulnerable to Tina's magical twig, easily intimidated by an unexpected power.
Appears as a threat, is defeated by Tina, and disappears from the narrative.
Destructive (implied by ruining the nest), easily surprised, fearful when confronted by Tina's unique power.
Locations
The Forest Path
A dense forest with many branches, where sounds of distress echo. The trees are tall enough for birds to fly over their tops.
Mood: initially mysterious, then distressed and urgent
Tina and the birds enter the forest, discover the ruined nest, and decide to seek out the culprit.
The Snow-Covered Ground in the North Country
A vast, snow-covered landscape with scattered buildings and trees. The ground is entirely blanketed in snow.
Mood: chilly, tense, expectant
The birds gather here to confront the creature that destroyed the nest, and Tina defeats it with a twig.
The Rose Garden
An enchanting place with myriads of beautiful birds and butterflies of every hue. Rows of white marble pillars, 'white as snow', lead into the garden, which is filled with roses everywhere.
Mood: magical, enchanting, joyful, peaceful
Tina arrives at the magical Rose Garden after her quest, welcomed by the butterfly and surrounded by beauty.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
Tina falls asleep and wakes to find a magical fan has transformed into a talking butterfly, and she herself can now fly. She joins a flock of birds on a journey to the North Country to confront a mysterious creature that destroyed a bird's nest. After the other birds attack the creature, they look to Tina, who, using a simple twig, frightens the beast away. As a reward for her courage, Tina is led by the butterfly and birds to the enchanting Rose Garden, a beautiful fairy-land.
Themes
Emotional Arc
confusion to purpose to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Amy Ella Blanchard was an American author known for children's books and poetry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often featuring gentle, imaginative themes.
Plot Beats (12)
- Tina falls asleep and hears a boy named Sunny singing about the Sunset Land.
- She wakes to find Sunny gone, but the fan she holds has a new face that transforms into a talking butterfly.
- Tina is amazed to find herself flying through the air, following the butterfly.
- She questions her identity, assuming she is a bird when other birds join them, though the butterfly is snappish about her questions.
- The butterfly leaves them at a forest, instructing Tina to reach the snow and return.
- In the forest, they find a bird's nest destroyed by a creature, and the flock vows to find it.
- They fly north, gathering more birds, until they reach a snowy landscape.
- A strange cat/snake-like creature appears, and the birds furiously attack it.
- The birds then turn to Tina, urging her to 'finish it'.
- Tina, feeling an innate understanding, picks up a twig and waves it at the creature, which recoils in fear.
- The birds cheer her victory, and they all fly to the warm, fragrant Rose Garden.
- The butterfly welcomes Tina to the Rose Garden, a beautiful place filled with roses, birds, and butterflies, confirming she is in a magical land.
