The warm spring sun was shining outside, and little Nadia, wanting to play with her friends, approached her mum with a smile.
May I go out to the yard to play with the children?
Nadia asked excitedly.
Of course, my dear, but put on your cardigan. The wind is rather cool and you might catch a cold.
Mum replied caringly.
All right, Mummy.
The girl rejoiced.
Running quickly down the staircase in the entrance hall, Nadia found herself in the yard, where the children had already gathered.
Let's play hide-and-seek, shall we?
A boy with lovely freckles shouted.
Yes, let's!
The others cheerfully agreed.
Nadia wanted to hide so well that no one could find her, and she fancied a tree—tall and mighty. Whilst climbing it, she accidentally caught her cardigan on a branch, and a button tore off from her lovely outfit.
Never mind! The cardigan is still lovely!
Nadia thought.
Having played to her heart's content, the girl went home. After supper, she soon fell asleep, and had a strange dream. Nadia was sitting on a bench when suddenly she heard sobbing and quiet crying. She went towards where these sounds were coming from. Approaching the tree and lowering her eyes to the slightly visible root of the mighty plant, she saw a tiny button.
It seemed to come alive, and its crying made Nadia ask the button:
What are you doing here? Why are you crying? Who has upset you?
I'm lost. My brothers and sisters are far away now, and I've been left here. How shall I manage without them?
Do you really have brothers and sisters?
Nadia asked thoughtfully.
Yes!
The button answered, sobbing.
We're so alike, you see.
The round little thing whispered sadly.
But how did you end up here, under this tree?
Nadia persisted.
I was playing so merrily, spinning round and round and... I tore off. And no one picked me up. My family has rushed far away and now I'll never see them again.
The button said sadly.
How can that be?
Nadia cried out in bewilderment.
That's how it is! No one will help me.
The button sighed.
Nadia heard the button's crying growing fainter and fainter, and finally it disappeared altogether.
Waking up, she whispered frantically:
