Little Ida’s Flowers - Fairy Tale by Hans Christian Andersen

Reading time for children: 21 min

„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 today?“ 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 today, 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.

Read another short fairy tale (5 min)

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Backgrounds to fairy tale „Little Ida’s flowers“

„Little Ida’s Flowers“ is a fairy tale written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, first published in 1835 as part of the collection titled „Fairy Tales Told for Children.“ The story follows Little Ida, a young girl who learns that flowers come to life at night and dance in the castle ballroom.

Background and Inspiration:

Folklore and oral tradition: Andersen was greatly influenced by European folklore and oral storytelling traditions. Tales of inanimate objects coming to life and dancing have been a common theme in many folk stories. „Little Ida’s Flowers“ can be seen as an adaptation of these motifs, with flowers taking on human characteristics and engaging in nightly dances.

Personal experiences: Andersen often drew upon his personal life experiences for his stories. He grew up in a humble background, and his love for nature and the imaginative worlds he created as a child influenced his work as an author. The childlike innocence and wonder in „Little Ida’s Flowers“ could be inspired by his own childhood experiences.

Love for nature: Similar to other Andersen tales, „Little Ida’s Flowers“ reflects the author’s appreciation for the natural world. The story portrays flowers in a magical and enchanting light, emphasizing their beauty and charm. This theme can be seen throughout Andersen’s body of work, showcasing his passion for nature and its wonders.

Morality and didacticism: Many of Andersen’s fairy tales were intended to teach moral lessons to their readers. „Little Ida’s Flowers“ focuses on the importance of imagination, curiosity, and the beauty of life’s simple pleasures. The story encourages readers to appreciate the wonders around them and to maintain a sense of wonder and creativity.

Literary influences: Andersen was familiar with various authors and literary works, including the German Romantic movement, which often featured tales of magical creatures and enchanted forests. „Little Ida’s Flowers“ shares similarities with these stories, particularly in its focus on the magical aspects of the natural world and the emotional journey of its protagonist.

In conclusion, „Little Ida’s Flowers“ is a charming fairy tale that reflects Andersen’s love for nature, his personal experiences, and his familiarity with folklore and other literary influences. The story continues to enchant readers with its tale of a young girl’s discovery of the secret lives of flowers, encouraging them to explore the magic and wonder in the world around them.

Interpretations to fairy tale „Little Ida’s flowers“

„Little Ida’s Flowers“ is a fairy tale that can be interpreted in various ways, with themes and messages that remain relevant to modern readers. Some common interpretations include:

Imagination and curiosity: The story emphasizes the importance of imagination and curiosity, especially in children. Little Ida’s innocent wonder and belief in the magical world of dancing flowers highlight the value of nurturing and preserving a sense of creativity and awe in the world around us.

The power of storytelling: The story demonstrates the power of storytelling and its ability to captivate and inspire. The student’s tale about the dancing flowers not only intrigues Little Ida but also encourages her to explore this magical world for herself. This theme emphasizes the importance of storytelling in shaping our perceptions of the world and fostering our imaginations.

Nature’s wonders: „Little Ida’s Flowers“ invites readers to appreciate the beauty and magic of the natural world. By portraying flowers as living beings with their own secret lives, the story encourages us to view nature with a sense of wonder and respect for its intricate workings.

The cycle of life and death: The story touches on the themes of life, death, and rebirth, as seen in the wilting of the flowers and their eventual replacement with fresh blooms. This aspect of the story can be interpreted as a gentle reminder of the natural cycles of life, as well as the possibility of renewal and hope even after loss.

The innocence of childhood: Little Ida’s unwavering belief in the dancing flowers and her genuine concern for their well-being illustrate the innocence and purity of childhood. This theme encourages readers to cherish and protect the simplicity and wonder of a child’s perspective on the world.

The importance of play and creativity: Little Ida’s reenactment of the dancing flowers using her dolls and other toys serves as a reminder of the importance of play and creativity in a child’s development. The story highlights the value of engaging in imaginative play and fostering a creative spirit.

In summary, „Little Ida’s Flowers“ offers a variety of interpretations that emphasize the importance of imagination, curiosity, the power of storytelling, an appreciation for nature, and the innocence of childhood. The story’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to captivate readers with its enchanting tale while also encouraging them to explore and cherish the magic in their own lives.

Adaptions of the fairy tale „Little Ida’s flowers“

While „Little Ida’s Flowers“ may not be as widely adapted as some of Hans Christian Andersen’s other fairy tales, it has still found its way into various forms of media, including films, television series, and books. Some notable adaptations include:

Film adaptations:
a. „Little Ida’s Flowers“ (1953): A short, live-action Soviet film adaptation directed by Tamara Ponomaryova. The film stays true to the original story, showcasing the magical world of dancing flowers in a visually captivating manner.

Television adaptations:
a. „Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairy Tale“ (2001): A British-American television film that explores Andersen’s life and weaves together adaptations of his most famous stories, including „Little Ida’s Flowers.“ The film combines biographical elements with the author’s imaginative storytelling, creating an immersive experience for viewers.
b. „The Fairytaler“ (1998-2004): A Danish animated television series that adapted various fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen. The series includes an episode based on „Little Ida’s Flowers,“ bringing the story’s charming characters and magical world to life in animation.

Book adaptations and retellings:
a. „Little Ida’s Flowers“ (2007): A picture book adaptation illustrated by Charlotte Gastaut, which captures the enchanting world of dancing flowers through vivid illustrations and a retelling of Andersen’s story for young readers.
b. „The Flower’s Festival: A Retelling of Little Ida’s Flowers“ (2014): A retelling by author and illustrator Elsa Beskow, which adds a unique twist to Andersen’s original story, featuring a new cast of characters and a colorful, imaginative world.

Stage productions:
a. „Little Ida’s Flowers“ (2014): A puppet show adaptation by the Danish puppet theater company Teater Refleksion, which uses innovative puppetry techniques to bring the story to life on stage. The production has toured internationally, introducing audiences to the magical world of dancing flowers.

These adaptations of „Little Ida’s Flowers“ showcase the story’s enduring appeal and its adaptability across different media formats. By reimagining the tale in various forms, these adaptations help to preserve the magic and wonder of Andersen’s story for new generations of readers and viewers.

Adaptions of the fairy tale „Little Ida’s flowers“

There have been various adaptations of „Little Ida’s Flowers“ by Hans Christian Andersen throughout the years. Here are a few examples:

Opera: In 1958, composer Gunnar Thyrestam created an opera adaptation of the story called „Lilla Idas Blommor.“ The opera was performed in Swedish and was intended for children.

Ballet: In 1960, Russian choreographer Gennady Chumakov created a ballet adaptation of „Little Ida’s Flowers“ called „The Flower of Happiness.“ The ballet tells the story of Ida and her search for her lost shoe through dance.

Animated Film: In 1984, a Danish animated film adaptation of the story was released. The film, called „Little Ida,“ follows Ida’s search for her shoe and her adventures with the talking flowers.

Children’s Book: In 1995, author and illustrator Susan Jeffers created a children’s book adaptation of the story called „Little Ida.“ The book features beautiful watercolor illustrations and tells the story of Ida’s search for her lost shoe in a simple and engaging way.

Theater Play: In 2019, the Edinburgh-based children’s theatre company, the Scottish Storytelling Centre, created a theatre play adaptation of „Little Ida’s Flowers“. The play was performed for children and featured music, dance, and storytelling.

These adaptations demonstrate the enduring appeal of „Little Ida’s Flowers“ and its ability to be reimagined in various artistic forms.

Summary of the plot

„Little Ida’s Flowers“ is a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a young girl named Ida who learns about the secret lives of flowers. The story begins with Little Ida noticing that her flowers have wilted. She questions her tutor, a university student, about why her flowers have lost their beauty. The student, with a vivid imagination, tells her that the flowers are tired from dancing all night in the castle ballroom.

Intrigued by the student’s story, Little Ida decides to see the dancing flowers for herself. She sneaks into the castle ballroom at night, but she doesn’t find the flowers there. Disappointed, she returns home and falls asleep. In her dream, she sees her flowers coming to life, leaving their pots, and dancing in the moonlight. They are joined by other flowers from the castle garden, and they all dance together in a magical, enchanting scene.

When Little Ida wakes up the next morning, she finds that her flowers are still wilted. Remembering the student’s story and her dream, she decides to give her flowers a proper send-off, as they have danced their last dance. With the help of her dolls, Little Ida organizes a funeral procession for the flowers and buries them in the garden.

Shortly after, Little Ida receives a new bouquet of fresh flowers from a friend. These flowers, too, have the potential to come to life and dance. The story concludes with the implication that the cycle of life and the magical world of dancing flowers will continue, and Little Ida’s imagination and sense of wonder will be nurtured by these new blooms.

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Backgrounds to fairy tale „Little Ida’s flowers“

„Little Ida’s Flowers“ is a fairy tale written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. Andersen is widely known for his classic children’s stories, including „The Little Mermaid,“ „The Ugly Duckling,“ „The Snow Queen,“ and „The Emperor’s New Clothes.“ He wrote more than 150 fairy tales during his lifetime, and his stories have been translated into over 100 languages.

Hans Christian Andersen was born in Odense, Denmark, on April 2, 1805. He came from a poor background, and his family struggled to make ends meet. Despite this, Andersen’s mother encouraged him to develop his imagination and love for stories. As a young man, Andersen moved to Copenhagen to pursue a career in theater. Although his initial ambitions were not successful, he eventually discovered his talent for storytelling and writing.

„Little Ida’s Flowers“ was published in 1835 as part of Andersen’s first collection of fairy tales, titled „Fairy Tales Told for Children.“ The story was inspired by a real-life experience Andersen had when visiting the home of a friend. The friend’s daughter, named Ida, had a bouquet of withered flowers, and Andersen told her a story about the flowers having a life of their own. This encounter later became the basis for „Little Ida’s Flowers.“

The story tells the tale of a young girl named Ida, who learns from a student that flowers are alive and dance at night. When her flowers start to wither, she becomes concerned for their well-being and decides to take care of them. In the end, the flowers come to life, and Ida witnesses their beautiful dance.

„Little Ida’s Flowers“ is a charming story that showcases the power of imagination, innocence, and the beauty of nature. Andersen’s enchanting storytelling and vivid descriptions have made this fairy tale a beloved classic for generations of readers.

Interpretations to fairy tale „Little Ida’s flowers“

„Little Ida’s Flowers“ is a delightful fairy tale that can be interpreted in various ways. Here are some possible interpretations:

The power of imagination and creativity: The story highlights the importance of imagination and creativity in a child’s life. Little Ida’s fascination with the student’s stories leads her to create a vivid dream world where flowers come to life and dance. This imaginative world not only entertains Ida but also allows her to understand and appreciate the beauty of the flowers and the world around her.

The contrast between childhood innocence and adult skepticism: The story contrasts the open-mindedness and curiosity of Little Ida with the skepticism and cynicism of the lawyer. While Ida embraces the student’s fanciful stories and enjoys her imaginative adventures, the lawyer disapproves of such „nonsense“ and is critical of the student’s influence on Ida. This contrast highlights the importance of maintaining a sense of wonder and joy in life, which is often lost as people grow older.

The beauty and fragility of nature: The tale conveys a message about the beauty and fragility of nature, especially as represented by the flowers. The flowers come to life and dance, experiencing joy and happiness, but they are also aware that their lives are short-lived. Their request to be buried near the canary’s grave so that they can bloom again in the summer emphasizes the cycle of life and the need to appreciate and care for nature’s beauty.

The importance of friendship and kindness: Little Ida’s Flowers also emphasizes the importance of friendship and kindness, as seen in the interactions between Ida, the flowers, and her toys. Ida shows genuine concern for the well-being of her flowers and offers them her doll’s bed to help them recover. In return, the flowers show their gratitude and include her toys, like Sophy, in their dance. These acts of kindness foster a sense of camaraderie and friendship among the characters in the story.

In summary, „Little Ida’s Flowers“ is a rich and enchanting fairy tale that explores themes such as imagination, innocence, the beauty of nature, and the value of friendship and kindness.

Summary of the plot

„Little Ida’s Flowers“ by Hans Christian Andersen tells the story of a young girl named Ida who learns from a student that flowers come to life at night to dance and have fun. One day, Ida finds her flowers wilted and lifeless, and the student explains that they are tired from dancing the night before. He shares with her the secret world of the flowers, where they have grand balls in the king’s palace when everyone is asleep. The flowers even have their own royalty and court, and they perform dances with each other.

Ida is fascinated by these stories and believes her flowers are unwell because of their late-night dancing. She decides to put them in her doll Sophy’s bed to help them recover. That night, Ida hears beautiful music coming from the room where her flowers are resting. She sneaks in and witnesses the flowers dancing in the moonlight, with the flowers from the king’s palace joining them as well. Sophy, the doll, ends up joining the dance, and the flowers express their gratitude to her for allowing them to use her bed.

As the night comes to an end, the flowers reveal to Sophy that they will die soon and ask her to tell Ida to bury them in the garden near the canary’s grave. They assure her that they will come back to life in the summer, more beautiful than ever. The story ends with Ida waking up and finding the flowers dead, just as they had predicted. She follows their wishes and buries them in the garden, waiting for the day they will bloom again.

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