Piccola had no dolls and toys, and she was often hungry and cold, but she was never sad or lonely. So what if there were no children for her to play with? In summer there were always the birds in the forest, and the flowers in the fields and meadows. The birds sang so sweetly, and the flowers were so bright and pretty!
In winter when the ground was covered with snow, Piccola helped her mother, and knit long stockings of blue wool. She also fed the snow-birds with crumbs.
But one year, her parents could not earn much money. As her birthday drew near, Piccola said to her mother, "I wonder what my fairy godmother will bring me this year. I will keep me favorite pink basket out for her, she will not forget me, I am sure."
"Do not think of it this year, my dear child," replied her mother. "We must be glad if we have enough bread to eat."
But Piccola could not believe that her fairy godmother would forget her and on the day before her birthday she placed her pretty pink basket on the hearth before the fire.
As the poor mother looked at the little basket, she thought how unhappy her dear child would be to find it empty in the morning, and wished that she had something, even if it were only a tiny cake, for a birthday gift. There was nothing in the house but a few cents, and those had to be saved to buy bread.
When morning dawned, Piccola awoke and ran to her basket.
Her fairy godmother had come in the night. She had not forgotten the little child who had thought of her. She had brought her a gift. It lay in the little pink basket, looking up at her with its two bright eyes, and chirping contentedly as she stroked its soft feathers.
A little swallow, cold and hungry, had flown into the chimney and down to the room, and had crept into the basket for warmth.
Piccola danced for joy, and clasped the shivering swallow to her breast.
She ran to her mother's bedside. "Look, look!" she cried. "A birthday gift from my fairy godmother!" and she danced again in her little bare feet.
Then she fed and warmed the bird and cared for it tenderly all winter long, teaching it to take crumbs from her hand and her lips and to sit on her shoulder while she was working.
In the spring, she opened the window for it to fly away, but it lived in the woods nearby all summer and came often in the early morning to sing its sweetest songs at her door.
2
Which of Piccola's qualities most contributes to the plot of this story?
A.
her love of animals and birds
B.
her innocence
C.
her faith in her fairy godmother
D.
her helping nature
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1 answer
C. her faith in her fairy godmother
Piccola's faith in her fairy godmother is a key quality that drives the plot of the story. Her belief that the fairy godmother will bring her a gift leads her to place the pink basket out, setting the stage for the arrival of the swallow, which becomes the true gift and companion for her. This faith also reflects her optimism and hope despite her difficult circumstances.
