The old woman did what the witch asked: she planted the seed in a small pot with the finest soil; she watered the seed with fresh rainwater; and one day, when the beautiful pink flower had sprouted up from the dirt, the old woman kissed its closed petals.

Suddenly, the flower petals opened up and inside sat a small girl with long golden hair.  She was no larger than the old woman’s thumb.  The old woman named her Thumbelina.

She took great care of Thumbelina as her own daughter.  She made her a bed out of a polished walnut shell and each night she gathered flower petals from her garden for Thumbelina to use for warmth.  Thumbelina would sing the old woman to sleep with a most beautiful singing voice.

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