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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Prince Lazybones and Other Stories, by Mrs.
+W. J. Hays
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Prince Lazybones and Other Stories
+
+Author: Mrs. W. J. Hays
+
+Release Date: March 1, 2005  [eBook #15227]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCE LAZYBONES AND OTHER
+STORIES***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Curtis Weyant, Charlene Taylor, and the Project
+Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
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+      See 15227-h.htm or 15227-h.zip:
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+
+
+
+
+
+THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE LAZYBONES AND OTHER STORIES
+
+by
+
+MRS. W. J. HAYS
+
+Author of "Princess Idleways"
+
+Illustrated
+
+Harper & Brothers Publishers
+New York and London
+
+1884
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "GOOD EVENING, MY DEAR PRINCE."]
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE LAZYBONES
+
+PHIL'S FAIRIES
+
+FLORIO AND FLORELLA: A CHRISTMAS FAIRY TALE
+
+BOREAS BLUSTER'S CHRISTMAS PRESENT
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+"Good-evening, my dear Prince" (Frontispiece)
+
+"Approach of the swanlike boat"
+
+"Look! There's an eagle"
+
+"Making the sturgeon useful"
+
+
+
+
+
+THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE LAZY BONES
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+
+Of all the illustrious families who have shone like gems upon the
+earth's surface, none have been more distinguished in their way than the
+Lazybones family; and were I so disposed I might recount their virtues
+and trace their talents from a long-forgotten period. But interesting as
+the study might prove, it would be a difficult task, and the attention I
+crave for Prince Leo would be spent on his ancestors.
+
+Of princely blood and proud birth, Leo was a youth most simple-minded.
+He knew that much was expected of him, and that he was destined to rule;
+yet so easily was he satisfied that his greatest happiness was to lie
+all day basking in the sun or dawdling through his father's park with
+his dog at his heels, the heels themselves in a very down-trodden state
+of humility, watching with languid gaze the movements of the world
+about him.
+
+And the world just where he lived was very beautiful. On a fertile
+plain, surrounded by mountain-peaks of great height, threaded by silver
+streams, and so well watered that its vegetation was almost tropical,
+was the estate of Leo's father, Prince Morpheus Lazybones. It had been
+in the family for ages, and was so rich in timber and mineral resources
+that none of its owners had cared to cultivate the land. Timber was cut
+sparingly, however, because the market for it was too distant, and the
+minerals remained in their native beds for much the same reason.
+
+The family throve, notwithstanding, and were well supplied with all
+manner of delicacies, for the servants were many, and there was never a
+lack of corn or wine.
+
+Leo was most fair to see. To be sure, his drooping lids half concealed
+his azure eyes, and his golden locks sometimes hid his snowy forehead;
+but his smile was charming; his face had such an expression of calm
+satisfaction, such a patient tranquillity, that his smile was as the
+sudden sunshine on a placid lake. It was the smile of the family, an
+inherited feature, like the blue hood of a Spanish Don. And then it was
+given so freely: the beggar would have preferred it to be accompanied
+with the jingle of a coin, but as the coin never came and the smile did,
+he tried to think that it warmed his heart, though his wallet went
+empty.
+
+There were those who said a smile cost nothing, else it would not have
+been bestowed. It had a peculiarity of its own which these same critics
+also objected to--it nearly always ended in a yawn.
+
+But Leo heard none of these ill-natured remarks, and, if he had, would
+not have minded them any more than he did the burs which clung to his
+garments as he rambled through the woods. Poor fellow! he would gladly
+have shared his coppers with a beggar, but he had none to share.
+
+Morpheus Lazybones never seemed to think his son required anything; so
+long as the boy made no demands, surely nothing could be wanting, and
+every one knew _he_ was not equal to any exertion. For years he had
+lived the life of an invalid, shut up in his room most of the time,
+venturing from it only in the sunniest weather, and then with great
+caution. He had no particular malady except that he was a poet, but
+surely that was burden enough. To have to endure the common sights and
+sounds of this earth when one is composing poetry is indeed a trying and
+troublesome thing. So Morpheus found it, and therefore he frequently
+stayed in bed, and allowed his fancy to rove at its own sweet will.
+
+They lived in what had been a monastery. There had been houses and farms
+on the Lazybones property, but the money not being forthcoming for
+repairs, they had been each in turn left for another in better
+condition, until the monastery--what was left of it--with its solidly
+built walls, offered what seemed to be a permanent home.
+
+Here Morpheus lined a cell with tapestries and books, and wrote his
+sonnets. Here Leo slept and ate, and housed his dogs. The servants
+grumbled at the damp and mould, but made the chimneys roar with blazing
+logs, and held many a merry carousal where the old monks had prayed and
+fasted. The more devout ones rebuked these proceedings, and said they
+were enough to provoke a visit from the Evil One; but as yet the warning
+had no effect, as the revels went on as usual.
+
+Besides being a poet, Morpheus was conducting Leo's education.
+Undertaken in the common way, this might have interfered with the
+delicate modes of thought required for the production of poems, but the
+Lazybones were never without ingenuity. Morpheus so arranged matters
+that Leo could study without damage to his father's poems. The books
+were marked for a month's study, and Leo's recitations consisted of a
+written essay which was to comprise all the knowledge acquired in that
+time. Thus writing and spelling were included, and made to do duty for
+the higher flights of his mind.
+
+I do not tell how often Leo made his returns, neither do I mention how
+many papers Morpheus found no time to examine, but I may urge that Leo's
+out-door exercise demanded much attention, and that his father's
+excursions in Dream-land were equally exacting. But Leo, though he hated
+books, did not hate information. He knew every feathered thing by name
+as far as he could see it. He knew every oak and pine and fir and nut
+tree as a familiar friend. He knew every rivulet, every ravine, every
+rabbit-burrow. The streams seemed to him as melodious as the song-birds,
+and the winds had voices. He knew where to find the first blossom of
+spring and the latest of autumn, the ripest fruit and most abundant
+vines. He could tell just where the nests were and the number of eggs,
+whether of the robin or the waterfowl. He knew the sunniest bank and
+shadiest dell, the smoothest path, with its carpet of pine-needles and
+fringe of fern, or the roughest crag and darkest abyss. He could read
+the clouds like an open page, and predict fine weather or the coming
+storm. He knew where the deer couched and where they came to drink, and
+when the fawns would leave their mothers, and no trout was too cunning
+for him.
+
+But he did not know the use of a rifle. He had all sorts of lures for
+the creatures he wanted to tame, but no ways of killing them. For why
+should he kill them? There was always food enough; he was seldom hungry,
+and these were his friends. He liked to look them in the eyes; he liked
+to win them to him, soothe their fears if they had any, and then watch
+their pretty joy when their liberty was regained. And how could he have
+done this if their blood had been upon his hands? How could he have
+quieted the throbbing little hearts if murder had been in his own?
+
+Thus Leo spent his time, delightfully and innocently. If life were only
+a summer's day! But already winter was approaching. Discontent was
+brewing on the estate. Taxes were unpaid; tenants were grumbling at high
+rents; laborers were threatening and their wives complaining.
+
+Frequently, in the very midst of composing a poem, Morpheus would be
+called to adjust a difficulty, settle a dispute, or revise an account.
+This so disturbed his delicate nerves that illness, or the appearance of
+it, was sure to follow. He would then take to his bed, refuse all but a
+little spiced wine, allowing no coarse food to pass his lips, and strive
+to remember the beautiful words of which he had intended to make verses;
+but, alas! the words had flown, as well as the ideas which had suggested
+them, like so many giddy little butterflies.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+
+The monastery had been a grand old pile in its day; it was not one
+simple building, but a cluster of habitations which had grown with the
+growth and resources of the order which founded it. Like all feudal
+structures it had its means of defence--its moat and drawbridge, its
+tower of observation, and in its heavy gates and thick walls loop-holes
+and embrasures for weapons.
+
+But grass grew now in the moat and birds nested in the embrasures, while
+Leo's dogs bounded through chapel and refectory and cloister, parts of
+the latter being converted into a stable.
+
+Many of the walls had tumbled in hopeless confusion, but those of the
+buildings yet in use had carved buttresses and mullioned windows, on
+which much skill had been displayed.
+
+Leo knew, or thought he knew, every nook and cranny of his home, for
+when it rained, or heavy fogs hung threateningly about, his rambles were
+confined to the various quarters of the monastery.
+
+On such days the stone floors and bare walls were very inhospitable,
+but he would sometimes find a new passage to loiter in or a window-ledge
+to loll over and look from as he watched the rain drip from the carved
+nose of an ugly old monk whose head adorned the water-spout.
+
+I don't know whether it ever occurred to Leo that this world is a busy
+one. The very persistence of the pouring rain might have suggested it,
+as well as the beehives down in the kitchen court, where some of his
+many friends were storing their winter provision, for bees as well as
+birds were familiar to him; but he had the true Lazybones instinct of
+not following a thought too far, and so he looked and lolled and yawned,
+wishing for fine weather, for a new lining to his ragged old coat, or
+soles to his slipshod shoes, but never once supposing that any effort of
+his own could gain them.
+
+When it was cold the kitchen was apt to be his resort. It was a long and
+low apartment on the ground-floor, and its wide fireplace, with stone
+settle beside the hooks and cranes for pots and kettles, had doubtless
+been as cheery a corner for the old monks to warm their toes after a
+foraging expedition as it was for Leo, who liked to smell the savory
+stews.
+
+On the day of which I write the rain had fallen incessantly, and Leo had
+been more than usually disturbed by it, for cold and dreary though it
+was, the servants had turned him out of the kitchen. They would not have
+him there.
+
+"Idle, worthless fellow!" said the cook; "he lolls about as a spy upon
+us, to repeat to the master every word he hears."
+
+This was quite untrue and unjust, for Leo rarely conversed with his
+father, and seldom saw him since Morpheus took his meals as well as his
+woes to bed with him, as he had done at the present moment.
+
+But the household was in revolt; the uneasiness from outside had crept
+within, and there was quarrelling among the servants.
+
+"What shall I do?" said Leo to himself. "The rain is too heavy, or I
+would go out in it; but I have no place to get dry when I become soaked,
+and I can't go to bed in the daytime, as my father does. I wonder what
+he'd say if I went to him? Probably this: 'You have given wings to the
+finest of rhymes, and spoiled the turn of an exquisite verse; now, sir,
+what atonement can you make for so great an injury? It's the world's
+loss, remember.' That's the way it always is when I disturb him.
+Heigh-ho! what a dull day!"
+
+"A very dull day indeed, your highness."
+
+Leo started, his yawn ending abruptly, and he turned more quickly than
+he had ever done in his life towards the sound which saluted him. Surely
+he had been alone. Who ever came to this corridor? He looked up and down
+its dingy length, but saw no one. He must have been mistaken. Then he
+listened. The wind swept wailing through its accustomed approaches;
+shutters and windows shook with the blast, but no footfall was to be
+heard. He turned to the diamond-paned lattice, and again watched the
+drops trickling from the nose of the water-spout. No one had spoken.
+Again he yawned prodigiously, but brought his jaws together with a snap
+which might have damaged his teeth; for, to his great surprise, a voice
+said,
+
+"I think I could amuse you."
+
+"And pray who are you?" asked Leo, feeling very queer, and as if he were
+talking to himself.
+
+"That is of little consequence, so long as I do what I have proposed,"
+was the reply.
+
+"Very true," said Leo; "but I never before heard of a ghost in the
+daytime."
+
+"I am no ghost, your highness; I'd scorn to be such a useless thing."
+
+"What are you, then, and where are you?"
+
+"You will find out what I am after a while; and as to where I am, why, I
+am here beside you. Do you suppose you human beings have all the world
+to yourselves?"
+
+"Not quite, to be sure; the birds and beasts have their share. But one
+can see them."
+
+"So could you see me if your vision were not imperfect. How about all
+the living things you swallow every time you drink?"
+
+"I have heard of something of the kind, but it was too much trouble to
+understand it."
+
+"Poor boy! It's a pity some old ghost of a monk could not interest
+himself in your education; but, as I said before, ghosts are absurdly
+useless, except to scare people whose consciences are bad, and nothing
+more is needed to make me doubt their existence than the fact of your
+living here in what should be their stronghold, and they never raise
+hand or foot to help you. It's quite in keeping with their ridiculous
+pretensions. Believe in ghosts? No, I never did, and I never will."
+
+The voice, small and weak though it was, grew quite angry in tone, and
+it seemed to Leo as if it were accompanied by the stamp of a foot; but
+he saw nothing, not so much as a spider crawling over the stone
+corridor.
+
+It was very peculiar. He pinched himself to see if he was awake. Yes,
+wide-awake, no doubt of that; besides, he seldom dreamed--indeed, never,
+unless his foot had slipped in climbing a crag to peep into a nest, when
+the fall was sometimes repeated in his sleep. Who was this speaking to
+him? As if in answer to his thoughts, the voice went on:
+
+"So far from being a good-for-nothing old ghost, I am one of the
+founders of the S.P.C.C., a very old society--much older than people of
+the present day imagine."
+
+Leo was quite ashamed to be so ignorant, but he ventured to ask,
+
+"What is the S.P.C.C.?"
+
+"Is it possible you have never heard of it?"
+
+"Never," replied Leo, still feeling as if he were talking to the walls.
+
+There was a queer little gurgling "Ha! ha!" which was at once
+suppressed.
+
+"Well, how could you know away off in this remote region?"
+
+"I am sure I don't understand you at all," said Leo.
+
+"No, I see you don't; and it's by no means remarkable. You live so
+entirely alone, and are so wretchedly neglected, that it is a wonder you
+know anything."
+
+Leo began to be angry, but it was too much of an effort; besides, what
+was there to be angry at--a voice? So he remained sulkily silent until
+the voice resumed, in a changed tone:
+
+"I beg your highness's pardon; I quite forgot myself. I am very apt to
+do that when I am much interested; it is a great fault, for I appreciate
+fine manners. But to explain. In the faraway cities where people live
+like ants in an ant-hill, all crowded together, there is often much
+cruelty and oppression, as well as vice and poverty. Now for this state
+of things they have laws and punishments, means of redress; but they
+relate principally to grown people's affairs; so the kind-hearted ones,
+noticing that little children are often in need of pity and care and
+protection, have an association called the Society for the Prevention of
+Cruelty to Children. It is as old as the hills, but they think it a
+modern invention. I am one of the original founders of that society,
+little as they know me; but human beings are _so_ vain."
+
+"Indeed!" said Leo, lazily; he was already tired of the whole matter.
+
+"Yes, vain and pretentious. Look at your father and his poems; he thinks
+his doggerel verses a mark of genius."
+
+"What has my father done to you that you attack him so rudely?" asked
+Leo, angrily.
+
+"Ah! you are aroused at last. I am glad. What has your father _not_
+done, you had better ask. But I acknowledge that I am rude, and I won't
+say more than just this: Your father has failed to prepare you for your
+duties. Trouble is coming, and how are you to meet it?"
+
+"Don't know, and don't care," came out with characteristic Lazybones
+indifference.
+
+"Ah! my dear Prince, do not speak so; it is quite time you knew and
+cared. Do you study geography?"
+
+"Sometimes."
+
+"All surface work, I suppose?"
+
+"Probably."
+
+"Now my plan of study comprehends an interior view of the earth's
+formation."
+
+Leo gave a tremendous yawn, and said,
+
+"Oh, please don't bother any more; I am awfully tired."
+
+"So I should think. Well, do you want to be amused?"
+
+"No; I don't want anything."
+
+"Come with me, then."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"No matter where; just do as I bid you."
+
+"How can I, when I don't even see you?"
+
+"True. It will be necessary to anoint your eyes; shall I do it?"
+
+"Just as you please."
+
+Leo felt a little pressure forcing down his eyelids, and the pouring of
+a drop of cool liquid on each.
+
+When he opened his eyes again there stood before him the quaintest,
+queerest being he had ever beheld.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+
+Leo had heard of kobolds and gnomes and elves, but in all his wanderings
+over the Lazybones estate in the brightness of noon, the dewy dawn, or
+dusky eve, or later when the moon bathed every shrub in silver, he had
+never so much as caught a glimpse of fairy folk.
+
+Here, however, was a real elf--a most peculiar person. He was extremely
+small, thin, and wiry, about two and a half inches high, and his costume
+a cross between that of a student or professor and that of a miner, for
+on his bushy head was a miner's cap with a lantern, and on his back was
+a student's gown, while his thin legs were incased in black silk
+stockings, and his feet in rough hobnailed boots. Slung over one
+shoulder was a leather bag, and in his hand was a curious sort of a
+tool.
+
+"The Master Professor Knops has the honor of saluting Prince Leo
+Lazybones," was the way in which this extraordinary person introduced
+himself, making at the same time a deep bow and a military salute, but
+with no raising of the cap from which the little lantern gleamed with a
+bright blue flame. Leo returned the salutation with a lazy grace,
+smiling curiously upon the queer little object before him, who proceeded
+to say:
+
+"And now let us go; I lead--you follow."
+
+"Forward, then," responded Leo, rising from his lounging attitude.
+
+The elf went nimbly down the corridor, as if accustomed to it, and
+paused before a door which led to a flight of stone steps.
+
+"Are you going down cellar?" asked Leo, who knew where the stairs led.
+
+"I am," replied Knops; "but these huge doors and heavy hinges bother me.
+Be so good as to open and close them for me. By-the-way, you may get
+hungry; shall we find food down here?"
+
+"Perhaps so," said Leo, following, and doing as requested.
+
+They went down step after step, and it was wonderful how much light came
+from that little blue flame.
+
+On skipped the elf, his gown puffing out, his nailed boots pattering
+over the stones, and Leo found himself quite breathless when they
+reached the cellar, so unused was he to any rapidity of movement.
+
+"Suppose we meet some one," said Leo.
+
+"And what have we to fear if we do? No one can see me, and if you are
+afraid of a scullion or house-maid you are not the Prince I take you
+for. Tut! tut! don't be afraid--come on."
+
+The cellar was damp, and great curtains of cobwebs, like gray lace, fell
+over the empty bins and wine-vaults. From a heap of winter vegetables
+Leo filled his pockets with apples and turnips.
+
+They came at last to a door which Leo remembered having opened once, but
+finding that it led to a passage which was dark, dismal, and unused, he
+had not cared to explore it. He now followed the elf through it, but not
+without misgivings, for as he groped along he stepped on a round object
+which, to his horror when the little blue flame of the elf's lantern
+revealed its empty sockets and grinning jaws, proved to be a skull.
+
+Knops turned with a smile when he saw Leo's agitation, and said,
+blandly,
+
+"You are not interested in this form of natural history, I see." Then
+taking up the skull, he placed it in a crevice of the wall, saying,
+"Here is another proof that there are no ghosts about. Do you think any
+one would be so careless of his knowledge-box as to leave it to be
+kicked around in that way? Oh, those old monks were miserable
+house-keepers; the idea of stowing away their skeletons so near their
+kitchen closets!"
+
+Leo smiled faintly, and went on after Knops, who every once in a while
+gave a tap on the walls with his tool, starting the echoes.
+
+"There!" said he, "do you hear that? This is the way we make old houses
+haunted. I don't do it for fun, as do the elves of folly. I have a
+sensible purpose; but they like nothing better than to frighten people,
+and so they make these noises at all hours, and get up reports that a
+house is bewitched; but even a common insect like the cricket can do
+that, human beings are such ridiculous cowards."
+
+Leo made an effort to assume the courage which he did not feel, and
+asked his guide how much farther he intended to lead him.
+
+"Now," said Knops, stopping, and putting on an air of intense gravity,
+as if he were about to deliver a lecture, "I must beg you, my dear
+Prince, to place perfect confidence in me. I promised not to harm you.
+As a member of the S.P.C.C., I am pledged to protect you; besides, you
+have no idea how much I am interested in you; this expedition has been
+planned entirely for your benefit. Trust me, then, and give yourself
+entirely up to my control. Ask as many questions as you wish, provided
+they are useful ones. Just say, without ceremony, 'Knops, why is this?
+or, Knops, what is that?' and I, in return, if you will be so good as to
+allow me, will say, frankly, 'Leo, this is this,' or 'that is that.' But
+here is the entrance to our habitations. You will have to stoop a
+little." Striking again with his tool, a panel slid open in the wall,
+through which they crept.
+
+It was still dark, but the air had changed greatly; instead of the musty
+dampness of a vault, there was a soft warmth, which was fragrant and
+spicy, and a beam as of moonlight began to illuminate the passage, which
+broadened until they stood at its termination, when Leo found himself on
+a ledge or gallery of rock, which was but one of many in the vast cavern
+which opened before them.
+
+On its floor was burning an immense bonfire, which flashed and flamed,
+and around which was a bevy of dwarfs, shovelling on fuel from huge
+heaps of sandal-wood. Every gallery swarmed with elves and dwarfs in all
+sorts of odd costumes, but all bore little lanterns in their caps, and
+tools in their hands. Some were hammering at great bowlders, others with
+picks were working in passages similar to the one Leo had left, and
+others seemed to be turning lathes, sharpening knives, cutting and
+polishing heaps of brilliant stones. Every once in a while a party of
+queer little creatures much smaller than Knops would trundle in
+wheelbarrows full of rough pebbles, and dumping them down before those
+employed in cutting and polishing, would be off again in a jiffy for
+another load.
+
+Leo was so astonished that he stood perfectly silent, gazing now at the
+flashing fire which reflected from all sides of the brilliant quartz of
+the cavern, and now at the tier upon tier of galleries full of busy
+little people.
+
+"This is one of our workshops," said Knops, "but not the most important.
+Now that you have rested a moment I will take you to that."
+
+Line upon line of red and green in rubies and emeralds were at the base
+of the grotto, and then he found that the emeralds sprang up into long
+grasses, and the rubies into flaming roses, and on slender spears were
+lilies of pearls and daisies of diamonds, and blending with these were
+vines of honeysuckle and strawberries, gleaming with sapphires and topaz
+and amethysts, wreathing and flashing up to a ceiling of lapis lazuli
+blue as a June sky. The floor was a mosaic of turquoise forget-me-nots
+on a turf of Egyptian jasper.
+
+When Leo had looked at all this bewildering beauty, Knops pushed open
+the mica door again, and they began to traverse the galleries of the
+rock cavern. He was surprised that none of the elves noticed him, nor
+even looked at him, and he asked Knops the reason.
+
+"I have rendered you invisible to them, my dear Leo, for two reasons:
+one is that you may be undisturbed in your examination of their work,
+and the other is that they may not be interrupted; for of course your
+presence would be a source of lively interest to them, and yet any
+stoppage of work would necessitate punishment."
+
+"Punishment?" repeated Leo, questioningly.
+
+"Oh yes; most of our hardest workers are elves of mischief and it is
+only by keeping them thus constantly employed that we prevent disorder.
+You have no idea what pranks they play."
+
+"And what is your authority among them?" asked Leo.
+
+"I am one of our King's cabinet; my title is Master Professor. My
+learning qualifies me to decide upon the plans of work, where to search
+for precious stones, and how best to prepare them for man's finding.
+Nothing is more amusing than the wonder and surprise men exhibit at what
+they consider their discoveries of minerals and gems, when for ages we
+have been arranging them for their clumsy hands."
+
+"How do you do this?"
+
+"Ah! it's a long story. Here you see the result of our long searches,
+and were it not for the processes we conduct none of these stones would
+ever be found. We can penetrate where man has never been; we can
+construct what man has in vain tried to do. Come with me to our
+diamond-room: we do not make many, preferring to find them; but as an
+interesting scientific experiment we have always liked to test our
+ability."
+
+So saying, Knops turned down a little lane lighted by what looked like
+small globes of white fire.
+
+"Electric light," said Knops, with a gesture of disdain, as he saw Leo
+blinking with wonder--"the commonest sort of a blaze; and yet men have
+nearly addled their brains over it, while we made it boil our kettles.
+It's the simplest and cheapest fuel one can have; but having utilized it
+so long, I am on the lookout for something new. Here, this is the way;"
+and again he opened a mica door.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+
+Blow-pipes and retorts, crucibles and jars, porcelain and glass vessels,
+of all odd sorts and shapes, confronted them on tables and shelves, and
+seated before small furnaces, with gauze protectors for their faces and
+metal ones for their knees, and queer little rubber gloves for their
+hands, were the very queerest of all the elves Leo had yet seen. They
+were thinner and much less muscular than the miners and stone-polishers,
+with eyes too large and legs too small for their bodies, so that they
+resembled nothing so much as spiders.
+
+"See how in the pursuit of the beautiful one can lose all beauty," said
+Knops, confidentially.
+
+"How hot it is here!" said Leo, gasping for breath.
+
+"Yes, my dear fellow, there's no doubt of that; the heat is tremendous.
+Now some of your thermometers go no higher than one hundred and thirty,
+while ours can ascend to three and four hundred; that is, for the common
+air of our dwellings. Of course the heat demanded by many of our
+experiments is practically incalculable; for instance--"
+
+"Oh, get me out of this!" entreated Leo.
+
+"Here, step into this niche, put your mouth to this opening"--and Knops
+pointed to one of many silver tubes which projected near them--"now
+breathe. Is not that refreshing?"
+
+"Yes," said Leo, reviving, as he took a long draught of fresh cool air.
+"How do your people endure such heat?"
+
+"They are used to it; besides, they can come to these little tubes, as
+you have done, whenever they please."
+
+"Where does this air come from?"
+
+"It is pure oxygen; we manufacture it, and here is a lump of pure
+carbon which we also manufacture," and he laid in Leo's hand what looked
+like a drop of dew. It was a diamond of exquisite lustre.
+
+As Leo looked with surprise and admiration at it, an elf came staggering
+up to the niche. After breathing the oxygen he turned to Knops with a
+heart-rending cry.
+
+"I have lost it--lost it, Master Knops."
+
+"Lost what, Paz?"
+
+"The finest stone I ever made, and I have been years at it."
+
+"How did that happen?"
+
+"Burned it too long--look!" and he produced in his spidery hand a small
+mass of charcoal.
+
+"Never mind, Paz; better luck next time," said Knops, kindly.
+
+"No, I am no longer fit for the profession; such a mistake is
+inexcusable. I cannot hold up my head among the others. I meant that
+diamond for our King's tiara or the Queen's necklace--bah! Please,
+Master Professor, put me among the miners, or take me for your valet. I
+care not what I do."
+
+"You are depressed just now; wait awhile."
+
+"No, I must go. I have broken my crucible and put out my furnace. I
+will not stay to be scorned."
+
+"Come with me, then, and I will see what I can do for you."
+
+"He may be useful to us," said Knops to Leo, adding, "we never allow
+these diamonds to be put in the quartz beds; they are all reserved for
+our own particular uses. It takes so long a time to make them that only
+elves of great patience and a certain quiet habit of mind are trained to
+the task. Look!"
+
+He pointed towards what appeared to be a glittering cobweb hanging from
+a projection on the wall. It was composed of silver wires, on which were
+strung numbers of small but most exquisite gems, each of which sparkled
+and flashed with its imprisoned light.
+
+"In the same way," he resumed, "all the pearls we use are of our own
+cultivation, if I may use the term. We secure the oysters and insert
+small objects within the shells, generally a seed-pearl of insignificant
+size, leaving it to be worked upon by the living fish; when enough time
+for the incrustation has elapsed we find our pearls grown to a
+remarkable size, of rarest beauty and value. These processes are not
+unknown to man, but men are so clumsy that they seldom succeed in
+perfecting them."
+
+Leo by this time was quite exhausted both by what he had seen and by
+what he had heard, and he begged Knops to allow him to rest.
+
+"Certainly, certainly, my dear," said Knops. "Pardon me for wearying
+you. I am more scientific than hospitable. Come to our sleeping
+apartment. I think I shall allow Paz to see you, for, as he is so
+unhappy, it will divert him to serve you while you remain with us, and
+perhaps, too, he can suggest something suitable for your food. I ought
+to have thought of this before."
+
+Leo had, with three or four bites, disposed of an apple, and had already
+begun on a turnip, when Knops, giving Paz a peculiar sign, the spidery
+little fellow reached up and snatched the turnip from Leo's hand.
+
+"What's the matter now?" asked Leo, too tired to regain it, easily as he
+could have done so.
+
+"I can't see anybody eat such wretched stuff as that; wait till I cook
+it," said Paz.
+
+"Well, Paz, I am glad you can help me out of my difficulty," said Knops.
+"I really am puzzled what to do for Prince Leo's hunger. My breakfast
+is a wren's egg; for dinner, a sardine with a slice of mushroom is
+enough for four of us; for supper, a pickled mouse tongue. How long
+could you live on such fare, Leo?"
+
+"Not long, I fear."
+
+"So I supposed. Well, here is the dormitory; by pushing up a dozen or
+more beds, you can stretch out awhile. Meanwhile I can attend to some
+professional duties, after I have despatched Paz for your food. What are
+you going to do with that turnip, Paz?"
+
+"An elf who can make diamonds from charcoal can perhaps produce
+beefsteak from a turnip," said Leo.
+
+"Ah! don't remind me of my bitter humiliation, kind sir," said Paz, in a
+sad tone. "I will do what I can for you. Do you like soup?"
+
+"Immensely."
+
+"And roast quail?"
+
+"Delicious!"
+
+"Apple tart?"
+
+"Nothing better."
+
+"Adieu, then, for an hour."
+
+Knops too departed, leaving Leo to look about him, with curious eyes,
+upon rows of little beds, each with a scarlet blanket, and each having
+its pitcher and basin conveniently at hand. But he soon was fast asleep.
+
+While all this was happening to Leo, at the monastery there was great
+confusion. The servants had gone in a body to Prince Morpheus's bedroom
+to demand their wages. With tearful eyes and wailing voice he had
+protested that he had no money, that his life was hanging by a thread,
+and that his brain was on fire. They loudly urged their claims,
+declaring they would instantly leave the premises unless they were paid.
+As they could not get a satisfactory reply from their master, who hid
+his eyes at the sight of their angry faces, and put his fingers in his
+ears to keep out their noisy voices, they concluded to go; so, packing
+their boxes and bags, and pressing the mules and oxen into their
+service, they one by one went off to the nearest village.
+
+One old woman, who had never known any other home, alone remained, and
+when the storm subsided and the house was quiet, Morpheus, being
+hungry, crawled down to the kitchen fire to find her boiling porridge.
+
+"Where is my son?" asked Morpheus.
+
+The old woman was deaf, and only muttered, "Gone--all gone."
+
+"Alas! and has my son also deserted his father?" cried Morpheus.
+
+The old woman nodded, partly with the palsy, and partly because she knew
+of nothing to say. Morpheus smote his forehead with a tragic gesture,
+and allowed himself to fall--gently--upon the floor. When he had
+remained in an apparent swoon long enough he was revived by some hot
+porridge being poured down his throat, and his hair and hands sprinkled
+with vinegar. Rousing himself as if with great effort, but really with
+great ease, he stood up, and finding the kitchen warmer than his cell,
+concluded to remain there; but the old woman was too stiff with
+rheumatism to wait upon him, so he had to ladle out his own portion of
+porridge, get his books and candle for himself, and finally bring in
+some fagots for the fire.
+
+When he sat down to study he found himself in a more cheerful mood than
+he had been in for many a day, though he could not help wondering what
+had become of Leo. As he went on thinking where the boy could be he was
+inspired to write what he called a sonnet upon the subject. Here it is:
+
+  "My boy has fled his father's home,
+   No more he treads these halls;
+   In vain my voice invokes his name,
+   In vain my tears, my calls.
+   The night winds sigh, the owlets cry,
+   The moon's pale light appears,
+   The stars are shivering in the sky--
+   I tremble at my fears.
+   Has then the Knight of Shadowy Dread
+   My Leo forced away
+   From his fond parent's loving heart
+   In Death's grim halls astray?
+   I bow reluctant to my fate;
+   'Tis mine to weep and mine to wait!"
+
+He counted the lines over carefully; the eighth and tenth seemed short,
+but it scanned after a fashion. On the whole it suited him, and was
+rather better done than many of his verses, so with soothed nerves he
+sought his pillow.
+
+The old woman had slumbered all the evening in her chair. Indeed her
+snoring had been even and regular enough to act as a measure in marking
+the time for the musical cadences of the sonnet.
+
+Morpheus, having a pretty good appetite, ate some bread and cheese and
+drank some ale before retiring.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+
+Leo was awakened by being rudely jostled about and tumbled upon the
+floor. When he opened his eyes the cause was apparent. The elves had
+found their beds in disorder, and not being able to see him, had, in
+their efforts to restore order, pitched him out. Hardly had Leo reached
+the floor when in came Paz to the rescue.
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir, for being so long absent," he said, "but the
+hunters had not come in with any game, and the cooks had use for all the
+skillets, so that I was obliged to go to the laboratory for a vessel
+large enough to hold your turnip. Soup is made in great quantities for
+our work-people, and by adding a few sauces I hope I have made it so
+that it will please you. If you come with me now I think you may relish
+your meal."
+
+Leo followed Paz to a small cavern hung with a velvety gray moss, on
+which were clusters of red berries. A small electric light burned in a
+globe of crystal, set in bands of turquoise, and shone upon a table
+which, like the bed he had used, was composed of several small ones,
+covered with a cloth of crimson plush, over which was again spread a
+white fabric of the thinnest texture and edged with lace. On this was
+laid a dinner service, so small that it was evidently more for ornament
+than use. Plates of crystal were bordered with gems, and jars and cups
+of embossed metal glittered with precious stones. He was obliged,
+however, to eat his soup from the tureen, and the turnip, now cooked in
+a sort of _pate_, was presented on a silver platter. Slices of smoked
+rabbit, with salted steaks of prairie-dog, were offered in place of the
+quail, which had not come; but Leo, having a fondness for sweets, saw
+with wonder one tart made from about a quarter of an apple. This proved
+to be such a sweet morsel that he kept Paz running for more until he had
+eaten a dozen. No wine was offered, but ices which looked like heaps of
+snow with the sun shining on them were dissolving in glass vases, and
+water as pure as the dew filled his goblet. Rising refreshed from his
+meal Leo met Knops coming towards him. He had exchanged his dress for
+what looked like a bathing suit of India rubber.
+
+"Are you rested?" he inquired, kindly.
+
+"Oh yes, very much, and I must thank you and Paz for so good a dinner,"
+responded Leo.
+
+"Don't mention it. If I had not acted on the spur of the moment, when
+the impulse to amuse you seized me, I would have been better prepared.
+We use many things for food which you would disdain, but I might have
+secured antelope meat or Rocky Mountain mutton, and by way of rarity
+something from Russia or China. Have you ever tasted birds' nests."
+
+"Never."
+
+"But I suppose you know why they are thought so great a delicacy?"
+
+"No."
+
+"It is merely the gluten with which they are fastened together, so to
+speak, by the birds, which renders them agreeable. The Chinese like
+rats, and in this we agree with them. Well dressed, stuffed with
+chestnuts or olives, and roasted, they are delicious."
+
+Leo made a wry face.
+
+"Ah! you are not cosmopolitan."
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"A citizen of the world, a person free from national prejudices. Ah,
+these words are long for you; I will try to be simple: you have not
+learned to eat everything that is good."
+
+"But rats are not good; they are vermin."
+
+"Bah! yes, because you let them feed like your hogs on anything. We do
+better; we pen them, and give them grain until they are fat and sweet,
+and make them eatable."
+
+Leo could not disguise his dislike, so Knops, shrugging his shoulders,
+did not attempt any longer to convince him, but said,
+
+"Are you interested in what I have shown you?"
+
+"Certainly I am," said Leo, with more spirit than he had ever put into
+words.
+
+"And you care to go on?"
+
+"Very much."
+
+"Prepare then for great exertion. As you are so large it will be
+necessary for you to creep through many passages. I am going to take
+you to see our water-work. The visit may be tiresome, but I think you
+will be repaid. It is generally supposed that giants have greater power
+than we. It may be that it is true, but I think it is doubtful. But you
+may wonder why I speak now of giants. It is because they have originated
+the opinion among men that the great water-falls and cataracts, such as
+those of the Nile and Niagara, are entirely of their producing, but we
+all know the familiar adage, 'Great oaks from little acorns grow.' I am
+going to show you where the little springs and rivulets have their
+rise."
+
+Leo's attention had flagged during this speech--he was so unaccustomed
+to many words--now his interest revived.
+
+"Do you remember a certain shady spot about half a mile from the
+monastery, beneath a group of birch-trees, and overhung with alders?"
+asked Knops.
+
+"Do I not, indeed?" responded Leo, eagerly. "It is the sweetest, coolest
+water on the estate. The moss around that spring is just like green
+velvet. Many a time I have plunged my whole head in it. The birds know
+it too, and always come there to drink. I sometimes find four or five of
+them dipping in at once; it is a pretty sight to see them bathe; they
+throw the water up under their wings until they drip, and then they are
+hardly satisfied."
+
+"Well," said Knops, "we have the supplying of that spring."
+
+All the time they had been talking, Knops had been leading the way
+through long passages and down steep steps, of which Leo's long legs had
+to compass several at a stride.
+
+Now they came to a low tunnel through which Leo had to creep for what
+seemed to him miles. Strange to say, the weariness which so often
+compelled him to rest or doze seemed to be leaving him. He felt an
+altogether new impulse, a desire to explore these recesses, and a great
+respect for Knops's learning also made him desirous of conversation,
+which was something he had always avoided by answering questions in the
+shortest possible way.
+
+The tunnel was not only long and low, but it was dripping with moisture,
+and the air oppressive with what seemed to be steam. Leo heard wheezing
+and groaning sounds, which, though not frightful, were very peculiar,
+and then the thump-thump, as of engines.
+
+Very glad was he when the tunnel opened into another large cavern, at
+the bottom of which was a lake. He could not have seen this had it not
+been for the electric fluid which blazed like daylight from a great
+globe overhead. On the margin of the lake were all kinds of hydraulic
+machines, small as toys, but of every conceivable form; derricks and
+wheels and screws and pumps, and all under the management of busy little
+elves, who panted and puffed and tugged at ropes and wheels and pipes as
+they worked, and kept up a constant chant not unlike the song of the
+wind on a stormy night.
+
+Leo watched them intently. Once in a while one restless little sprite
+would turn a hose upon his companions, when the chant would stop long
+enough for the rest to dip him head and heels into the lake, which had a
+very quieting effect. Leo noticed great numbers of pipes running up the
+sides of the cavern in all directions, but Knops soon opened the door of
+what he called "the model-room," and here were new wonders displayed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+
+The model-room of the elves' water-work department was a grotto of
+salt--glittering, dazzling, sparkling, and flashing--divided into two
+equal parts, or as if a huge shelf had been placed across it.
+
+On the top of the shelf was a tiny park or forest, with all the natural
+differences of the ground exactly represented by grasses, plants,
+flowers, rocks, and trees, living and growing, but on a scale so small
+that Leo was forced to use a microscope to properly enjoy its beauty.
+Even the herbage was minute, and the trees no larger than small ferns,
+but as his eyes grew accustomed to the glass he was amazed to find the
+hills and dales of his home here reproduced in the most familiar manner.
+
+It was truly an exquisite scene. Field upon field dotted with daisies,
+woodland as dense and wild as untrained nature leaves it, and hill upon
+hill clambering over one another, all so minute and yet so real, and
+dashing down from the tiny mountains was a stream of foaming water,
+winding about and gathering in from all sides other tributary brooks,
+so small that they would hardly have floated a good-sized leaf.
+
+And now Leo understood the meaning of it all, as he looked underneath
+the shelf where tiny pumps and rams were forcing up the water for this
+stream.
+
+Knops touched a spring and set a new series of wheels in motion, when,
+instantly, a gushing fountain flowed up in a small stone basin beneath a
+rustic cross; then a little lake appeared, on which were sailing small
+swans; and finally a rushing, roaring flood started some mill-wheels and
+almost threatened destruction to the tiny buildings upon its banks.
+
+"This," said Knops, "shows you how we use the power of our reservoirs,
+but it can give you no idea of the immense trouble we have in laying
+pipes for great distances. Some of our elves find it so difficult that
+they beg for other work, and many run off altogether and live
+above-ground, inhabiting the regions of springs and brooks, and so
+muddying them and filling them up with weeds that men let them alone,
+which is just what they desire."
+
+"Do fish ever clog your pipes?" asked Leo.
+
+"Never. We have none in our lakes; the water is too pure and free from
+vegetable matter for fish. It is doubly distilled. Taste it."
+
+Leo took the glass which Knops offered, and confessed he had never
+tasted anything more delicious.
+
+"We sometimes force carbonic gas into mineral springs, but that, as well
+as the salts considered so beneficial, is left to our chemists to
+regulate. Paz, do you know anything about this?"
+
+"Not much, Master Knops. I have seen iron in various forms introduced,
+but think that is usually controlled by the earth's formation."
+
+Leo sighed at his own ignorance, and vowed to study up these matters;
+but Knops, seeing his look of dejection, asked, "How would you like a
+bath?"
+
+"Delightful. Where? Surely not in the lake; it looks so cold and glassy
+I should not dare."
+
+"Oh, no, no," laughed Knops. "Do you think I'd let you bathe in a
+reservoir? Never! We are too cleanly for that, begging your pardon. Here
+is our general bath. It's quite a tub, isn't it?"
+
+"I should think so," said Leo, surveying quite a spacious apartment,
+about which were pipes and faucets, clothes-lines and screens.
+
+Here his friend left him, and he was glad to doff his garments for a
+plunge. He found that he could make the water hot or cold at will, and
+so luxurious was it that he would have stayed in any length of time had
+not a crowd of elves come chattering in, and with whoop and scream
+surrounded him. Though they could not see him, they were conscious of
+some disturbing force in the water, and in an instant a lot of them had
+scrambled on his back, and were making a boat of him. They pulled his
+hair and his ears unmercifully, and because he swam slowly, with their
+weight upon him, they whacked and thumped him like little pirates. But
+he had his revenge, for with one turn he tumbled them all off, and
+sprang from the bath, leaving them to squirm and squabble by themselves.
+
+Laughing heartily at their antics, he rejoined Knops and Paz, whom he
+found poring over some maps spread out before them.
+
+"We have been discussing the length of a journey to the Geysers of
+Iceland, also to the hot springs of the Yellowstone, but I am afraid
+either would require too much time. Was your bath agreeable?"
+
+"Very," said Leo, describing how he had been pummelled.
+
+"Those were the fellows from the steam-rooms--stokers probably. Rough
+enough they are. Do you care to have a glance at them at work?"
+
+"Don't care if I do," said Leo, in his old drawling manner; then,
+correcting himself, he added: "If it suits your convenience, I shall be
+very happy to take a look."
+
+"That is all it will be, I promise you," said Paz; "the heat is awful."
+
+Leo thought as much when Knops, having tied a respirator over his mouth,
+opened another door. Such a cloud of vapor puffed out that he could but
+dimly discern what seemed to be a tank of boiling, bubbling water,
+resting on a bed of soft coal, about which stark little forms were
+dancing and poking with long steel bars until flames leaped out like
+tongues of fire.
+
+"Oh," said Leo, as he quickly turned from his place, "how do they endure
+it? It is dreadful!"
+
+"They are used to it; they all came from Terra del Fuego," replied
+Knops, calmly. "And now, as a contrast to them, look in here."
+
+A hut of solid ice presented itself. Long pendants of ice hung from the
+ceiling, snow in masses was being formed into shapes of statue-like
+grace by a company of little furry objects whose noses were not even
+visible, and others were tracing out, on a broad screen of lace-like
+texture, patterns of every star and leaf and flower imaginable.
+
+Leo was so delighted that, although shivering, he could not bear to
+leave them, but begged Knops to lend him a wrap.
+
+Taking from a pile of furs in a corner several small garments, Paz
+pinned them together and threw them over Leo's shoulders, and as he
+continued to watch the beautiful work Knops explained its character.
+
+"This is our place for working out designs for those who are unskilled
+in frost-work. Frostwork is something too delicate for human hands, but
+in it we excel. Have you never seen on your window-pane of a cold winter
+morning the picture of a forest of pines, or sheets of sparkling stars
+and crystals? I am sure you have. Well, we do all that work on your
+windows, not with artificial snow and ice such as you see here, but by
+dexterous management we catch the falling flakes and mould them to our
+will, sometimes doing nothing more than spangling a sheet of glass, and
+again working out the most elaborate and fantastic marvels of
+embroidery. But in art our productions are almost endless. We color the
+tiniest blades of grass and beds of strawberry leaves until the moss
+upon which they rest look like velvet with floss needlework. We polish
+the chestnuts till they appear as if carved of rosewood. We strip
+thistles of their prickly coat, and use the down for pillows. The
+milk-weed, as it ripens its silken-winged seeds, serves us for many
+beautiful purposes. We tint the pebbles of a brook till they compare
+with Florentine mosaics. We wreathe and festoon every bare old bowlder
+and every niche made barren by the winds. Indeed, the list of our works
+would fill a volume."
+
+Leo listened and looked, though his feet were getting numb and his
+fingers nearly frozen. Many a time he had seen just such cappings to
+gate-posts and projections as were here being moulded, and just such
+rows of pearly drops on a gable's edge; but when, as if to specially
+please him, the busy workers carved a little snow maid winding a scarf
+about her curly locks, he clapped his hands in admiration, making such a
+noise that each little Esquimau dropped his tool in alarm.
+
+"Gently! gently!" said Paz and Knops; "they are easily frightened.
+Though they do not see you, their instinct is so fine that they can
+nearly guess your presence."
+
+"I am sorry if I have frightened them," said Leo. "Can't you say
+something to soothe them? Tell them how lovely their things are. I long
+to try and imitate them."
+
+Knops said a few words in a language Leo did not comprehend, and the
+little people gathered up their trowels again. But it was time to go,
+and Leo had to follow his guides and leave the snow people with more
+reluctance than anything he had yet seen.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+
+Knops now led Leo through so many places full of machines and
+contrivances which the water-power kept active that he was glad when
+they went up a long inclined plane, and came out into a wide gallery
+lined with mother-of-pearl, and paved with exquisite sea-shells.
+
+Here was a luxurious couch of beautiful feathers, the plumage of birds
+he had never beheld, and he was not sorry to see Paz bringing out
+another dozen of tarts for his refreshment. As he ate them, he asked of
+Knops, who was peeling a lime, "Have you no women and children among
+your elves?"
+
+"Oh yes," said Knops, smiling; "but they are not to be found near our
+workshops."
+
+"Where, then, do they live?"
+
+Knops put on an air of mystery as he replied: "I am not permitted to
+reveal everything concerning us, dear Leo. Our private life is of no
+public interest; but I may tell you that our children are bred entirely
+in the open air. Many an empty bird's nest is used as an elf cradle, for
+so highly do we esteem pure air, sunshine, and exposure as a means of
+making our children hardy, that we even accustom them to danger, and let
+them, like the birds, face the fury of the weather."
+
+"And do they all work as you do?"
+
+"They do, not at the same employments, nor is all our labor done by
+hand, as you might suppose. The songs which you hear are not all sung by
+birds or insects, the crying child has often a pretty tale whispered in
+his ear to soothe his grief or passion, and your garden roses are
+witness to many a worm in the bud choked by the hand of an elf. But we
+have many tribes, and the habits of each are different. I do not conceal
+that much trouble is made by some of them. But look at the Indians of
+North America and the Afghans of Asia."
+
+Leo was yawning again fearfully, when a little "turn, turn, turn," came
+to his ears, and as Knops ceased speaking a band of elves, habited as
+troubadours in blue and silver, with long white plumes in their velvet
+caps, climbed over the balustrade and began to play on zithers.
+
+The music was a gentle tinkle, not unlike a rippling brook, and appeared
+to be in honor of Master Knops, who listened with pleased attention, and
+dismissed them politely.
+
+Then came a message for Knops. A council was awaiting his presence; so,
+leaving Leo to Paz, with promise of a speedy return, he departed.
+
+"How do you get about so fast?" asked Leo. Paz took from his pocket a
+tiny pipe, curiously carved from a nut; then he opened a small ivory
+box, showing Leo a wad of something which looked like raw cotton
+sprinkled with black seeds.
+
+"One whiff of this, as it burns in my pipe, and I can wish myself where
+I please."
+
+"Let me have a try," said Leo, taking up the pipe.
+
+Paz smiled. "It would have no more effect upon you than so much
+tobacco--not as much, probably, for tobacco makes you deathly sick, does
+it not?"
+
+"Yes," said Leo, listlessly, disappointed that he could not go to the
+ends of the earth by magic.
+
+Paz noticed the disappointment, and said, by way of diversion, "Where do
+you like best to be?"
+
+"At home I like the kitchen," said Leo, with a little shrug.
+
+"Good! Come, then, to one of ours: we can be back by the time Master
+Knops returns." So saying, he started off, and Leo followed.
+
+Paz trotted down a winding staircase that made Leo feel as if he were a
+corkscrew, and in a little while ushered him into a place where jets of
+gas gave a garden-like effect, sprouting as they did from solid rock in
+the form of tulips and tiger-lilies, but over each was a wire netting,
+and from the netting were suspended shining little copper kettles and
+pans of all sorts and shapes.
+
+Busily bending over these was a regiment of cooks, but instead of paper
+caps on their heads, each wore a white bonnet of ludicrous form, which
+they could tip over so as to shield their faces from the heat. It gave
+them a top-heavy appearance which was extremely funny.
+
+In the centre of the kitchen was a long table, before which were seated
+a number of elves testing each compound to see if it were properly
+prepared, and examining the cooked dishes as they were brought in that
+all should be served rightly.
+
+"I had an idea," said Leo, "that elves and fairies lived on rose leaves
+and honey, and that you never had to have things cooked."
+
+"The truth is," answered Paz, "we do both; it all depends on what are
+our employments, whether we are living in the wild wood or down in
+these caverns. I would ask nothing better than to dine off honeysuckle
+and a bird's egg, or fill my pockets with gooseberries; but I must adapt
+myself to circumstances, and while toiling here have to share the more
+solid food provided for us." As he said this he handed Leo a pudding of
+about three inches in the round, iced on the top.
+
+Leo swallowed it down with such zest that Paz asked him to dispense with
+ceremony, and help himself to anything he saw. The tasting-table was
+full of puffs and tarts, and in a twinkling Leo had eaten two or three
+dozen of them. They were really so light and frothy that they were
+hardly equal to an ounce of lollypops such as an ordinary child could
+devour, but Paz cautioned him, telling him that the sweet was so
+concentrated he might have a headache.
+
+While he was doing this, Leo watched with interest the bringing in of
+some squirrels and rabbits, skinned and ready to be roasted. It took six
+elves to bear the weight of an ordinary meat dish on which these were;
+then they trussed and skewered them, and put them in small ovens.
+
+"How do you kill your game?" asked Leo.
+
+"We trap everything, and then have a mode of killing the creatures
+which is entirely painless."
+
+By this time Knops would have returned, so Paz hurried Leo off, not,
+however, without first filling his pockets with goodies. Up they
+clambered, until it seemed as if they might reach the stars by going a
+little farther, and now Leo was really so tired that when he sank down
+on the feathery couch in the sea-shell corridor he was asleep before he
+could explain to Knops the cause of his absence.
+
+He must have slept a very long while--a time quite equal to an ordinary
+night, if not longer--for when he awoke he was thoroughly rested and
+refreshed, and ready for any exertion he might be called upon to make;
+but he found himself entirely alone.
+
+At first this did not affect him, for he supposed his elfin friends had
+taken the opportunity to rest themselves, but after minutes lengthened
+into hours he began to be uneasy. What should he do if they never came
+back? How would he ever find his way out of these caverns? The thought
+was frightful, and to relieve his fears he began to call. His calls
+became shouts, yells, and yet no answer came; nothing but echoes
+responded.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+
+After a long and impatient listening the echoes of Leo's calls seemed to
+prolong themselves into musical strains, which, faint and far away at
+first, gradually came nearer and nearer.
+
+Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but swelling into
+mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small cymbals.
+
+Leo leaned over the balustrade of the corridor, and gazed down into the
+depths of a cavernous abyss. Instantly the space seemed filled with
+sprites in every conceivable attire. Some were dressed in the
+party-colored habits of court pages, some in royal robes of ermine,
+others as shepherds with crooks, and again others as cherubs with gauzy
+wings; but all were whirling like snow-flakes to the strains of the
+music.
+
+Leo looked in vain for Paz or Knops. Indeed, so many were the fantastic
+forms, and so rapidly did they move, that it was like watching a
+snow-storm, and this effect was heightened by misty wreaths, upon which
+were borne aloft the more radiant members, who danced and flashed as
+heat-lightning on the clouds of a summer's night. The light, instead of
+being a bright glare, was soft and mellow, and fell from crescent-shaped
+lanterns on the staffs of pages, who moved in a measured way among the
+throng, producing a kaleidoscopic effect.
+
+Leo watched them with eager eyes. Beautiful as the sight was, he yet was
+oppressed with fear, for he knew not how to reveal himself to these
+sportive beings, and he could not imagine how he should ever be released
+from his imprisonment.
+
+Suddenly the dancers fled as if pursued, the music became martial, and
+the steady tramp of a host of elves was heard. They were clad in mail,
+with helmets and shields of flashing steel, and armed with glittering
+lances; half of them had blue plumes and half had crimson. And now began
+their mimic warfare. Ranged line upon line, facing each other, with
+shouts and drum beats and bugle blasts, they fell upon each other in the
+fury of combat. Swords clashed, javelins were hurled, and the slain fell
+in heaps; but still the leaders charged, and still the martial blasts
+were heard; and over and over were repeated the manoeuvres of the
+advance, the retreat, the parrying of blows, the redoubled ardor of
+assault, until Leo's breath came short and hard with the excitement of
+the scene. It seemed a veritable battle-field, and to add to the glamour
+rays as of moonbeams, shone now and again clouded by the shadows of an
+approaching storm.
+
+Gradually the rage of the combatants subsided. Those who were able
+withdrew with those of their companions who were disabled, leaving the
+prostrate forms of the dead and dying.
+
+And now the music portrayed the rising of the wind, the falling of rain,
+the roar of thunder. This was succeeded by low, plaintive strains, as of
+people weeping, and a party of elves in the garb of monks headed a
+procession bearing lighted tapers and carrying biers, upon which they
+placed the inanimate forms of the warriors. Slowly they paced about,
+chanting in low tones, and constantly accompanied by the funeral dirge
+of the musicians.
+
+And now to Leo's almost overtaxed vision came a picture of a lonely
+graveyard in the mountains, where the procession stopped. Even as he
+looked it faded away; the sun streamed forth, shining upon a field of
+grain where merry reapers swung their scythes and sang with glee. Trees
+sprouted from fissures in the rock, birds flew about and perched
+undismayed, and little hay-carts, piled high with their loads, came
+creaking along, led by peasant elves, who were also seated on top of
+their fragrant heaps of hay. Then the sun beamed upon a party of
+drovers--elves in smock-frocks or blouses, driving flocks of sheep and
+horned cattle, while the bleating of the sheep and the blowing of the
+cattle were well imitated by the music. All this was succeeded by
+vineyards, grape trellises, and arbors, with busy elves gathering the
+fruit which hung in purple clusters, and beneath the arbors other elves
+rattling castanets, beating tambourines, and dancing.
+
+Again the scene changed. Snow fell; the birds disappeared; the tree
+boughs were glittering with ice, and were bending over a wide field of
+the same glassy substance. On it were elves in bright costumes, merrily
+skating. They glided about, cutting curious figures, pausing to bend
+and bow to each other, or to warm themselves at bonfires blazing on the
+banks.
+
+Then night came again, and the darkness was only broken by twinkling
+stars. The music became softer and more plaintive; it sounded like
+little flutes.
+
+A church tower loomed up, and then a blaze of light issued from its
+arched doors. Two by two, in white array, came forth the elves, and from
+the floating veils Leo saw that it was meant to represent a bridal
+procession. Garlands were on their arms, and ribbons fluttered from
+their caps. Roses were strewn in their path.
+
+Again, these were followed by a company of elves in the habit of nuns
+and Sisters of Charity. The music became a hymn. The church grew dark
+and vanished. The space filled again with shadowy forms, as if all the
+little actors had poured in. The sound of their coming was like that of
+a bevy of birds with wings fluttering. Suddenly a starry cross appeared;
+it flashed and flamed with a light which was as if it were composed of
+myriads of gems, and then a clear radiance streamed from it, revealing
+the whole multitude of elves kneeling in devotion. This lasted but a
+few moments, and again all was still and dark, and Leo was alone.
+
+But he was no longer afraid. His mind was filled with the beautiful
+scenes he had witnessed, his imagination stirred to activity. Why might
+he not behold these things again as a reality, instead of only a
+semblance of it? How grand it would be to travel and see novel and
+beautiful sights, to learn also wonderful things! And as he quietly
+thought, he heard the click, click of little boots, and Knops was beside
+him, followed by Paz. Leo greeted them warmly.
+
+"Did you suppose that we had deserted you?" asked Knops, sitting down by
+his side on the couch as if exhausted.
+
+"Yes, I was a little alarmed; it was so strange to find myself alone in
+such a place, for of course I had no idea which way to turn or what to
+do."
+
+"You were so soundly asleep that I had not the cruelty to disturb you,
+and it was necessary for Paz to go with me. From what you have witnessed
+you may guess how we have been employed and how much we have had to
+detain us; but you may rest assured that nothing would keep me from
+finishing what I have undertaken. You have now had a Vision of Life and
+a Vision of Labor, for such I call our two pantomimes. Am I wrong in
+supposing that they have pleased you?"
+
+"No, indeed," said Leo, quickly, his usual drawl giving place to a tone
+of bright animation. "I thank you a thousand times for your
+entertainment and instruction. I have been so pleased and delighted that
+I can hardly express myself as I ought to do. I am afraid I seem a very
+good-for-nothing fellow to you."
+
+"Indeed you do not. Don't suppose I would waste time on a
+good-for-naught. Paz can tell you what attracted me to you--can't you,
+Paz?"
+
+"Yes, sir; the Prince Leo's kindness of heart is the secret of his power
+with us."
+
+Leo blushed as he looked up and asked, "How did you know I was
+soft-hearted?"
+
+"By your kindness to animals and all living things. Ah! we are close
+observers, are we not, Paz?"
+
+"Necessarily, Master Professor."
+
+"Our powers of observation have revealed to us many of the mysteries
+which man longs to solve. There's the Gulf Stream, for instance. But you
+are not up in science yet. No matter. You have time enough before you if
+you will only apply yourself. Has anything you have seen made you
+anxious to know more?"
+
+"Oh, don't mention it!" exclaimed Leo. "I am so awfully ashamed of my
+ignorance that I would do anything to get rid of it. I want to know all
+about those curious things."
+
+"Good! the seed is sown, Paz," said Knops, complacently, with the
+nearest approach to a wink Leo had seen on his grave little countenance.
+"Now you must rest again before we start for home."
+
+Leo would have been very willing to do without more rest, remembering
+his alarm, but he could not be so selfish as to deprive his companion of
+it; so he at once assented, tempted to ask only that he might not be
+left quite so long again alone. But fearing this would imply distrust,
+and being really no coward, he said nothing. He was relieved, however,
+to hear Knops command Paz to remain with him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+
+Leo tried to go to sleep; but after doing everything he could think of,
+such as imagining a flock of sheep jumping a fence, and counting a
+hundred backward and forward, he gave it up as useless. All the strange
+things he had seen would come back, and his eyelids were like little
+spring doors that bobbed open in spite of his attempts to close them. As
+they lifted for the hundredth time he saw Paz doubled up in a heap, with
+his knees drawn up to his chin, his elbows resting on them, and his face
+in his hands. He was intently watching Leo.
+
+"Hallo!" said Leo, "can't you go to sleep either?"
+
+"No need at present."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I was going through a formula in D."
+
+"What under the sun is that?"
+
+"Something relating to my pursuits. Don't trouble yourself to try and
+find out everything. In my opinion Master Knops has crammed you too
+hard. What do you say to my telling you a story or two?"
+
+"Splendid! I'm ready when you are."
+
+"No, you are not; you're hungry. You must have a bite first; what shall
+it be? Oh, no matter; I'll get you something if you promise not to ask
+any questions."
+
+"All right," said Leo, inwardly cringing at the thought of stuffed
+rats.
+
+Paz was gone but a little while. When he came back he was carrying a
+basket, from which he produced a small flask of a very sweet, fruity
+sirup, a dish of something that looked like little fish swimming in
+golden jelly--salt and savory Leo found them--and a sort of salad
+garnished with tiny eggs. These were followed by nuts of a peculiar
+flavor, and small fruits as exquisite to look at as they were delicious
+to taste.
+
+When Leo had done ample justice to all these things Paz looked relieved,
+as if he had feared they might not suit.
+
+"Never ate anything better in my life," said Leo.
+
+"I am glad to hear it; tastes differ so. Now these things come from all
+parts of the world--the fish from Spain, the eggs from Africa, the nuts
+from Italy, the fruits from France, and the sirup from Portugal."
+
+"Oh dear!" said Leo, wondering how their freshness was preserved.
+
+"Yes, I suppose you have no idea of our canning business."
+
+"None in the world."
+
+"I presumed as much," said Paz, wisely, "nor am I going to bore you
+with any more information."
+
+Leo looked quite shocked.
+
+"Oh, well," said Paz, profoundly, "there's a limit to all things, and
+I'm not a Knops."
+
+"But have you been to all parts of the world?" asked Leo.
+
+"Oh, yes," answered Paz, carelessly. "I have wandered far and wide in my
+time. Until I caught the diamond fever I was used as an envoy."
+
+"Indeed!" said Leo, having but a faint idea of what an envoy was. "What
+did you do?"
+
+"I went on errands of importance."
+
+"Who for, and where did you go?"
+
+"I was sent generally to carry messages from our King to the Queen of
+the Wind Fairies or the Herb Elves, or the Sylphs, sometimes to warn
+them of trouble or danger, sometimes to tell them that imps were
+rampaging or giants were about to make war, but oftener to inform them
+of some plan for assisting man, or some good to be done for a child: in
+these things we delight."
+
+"How kind!" said Leo.
+
+"Kindness has so much power, if people only knew it. But you are
+waiting; I must not detain you." So, without further preface, thus began
+
+
+PAZ'S STORY
+
+"It was a time of trouble to mankind--a year of strange events, and yet
+so stupid are ordinary mortals--begging your pardon--that none were
+making preparations either to meet or to avoid disaster. The King of the
+Kobolds had been negotiating with our King for the purchase of some
+immense tracts of iron ore, and in the course of conversation said he
+had received news from Italy that there would soon be a volcanic
+outbreak, that the giants there were quarrelling fiercely, and had not
+hesitated to declare that unless matters were arranged to suit them they
+would bid Vesuvius pour forth its death-dealing fires.
+
+"Now on the side of that well-known mountain were living some friends of
+our King--two children, a girl and a boy, Tessa and Tasso, daughter and
+son of an Italian peasant.
+
+"In their little vineyard one day our King's son, an infant, was
+swinging in his leafy cradle; it looked like a bird's nest, and so I
+suppose they thought it, but a rude playmate of theirs tried to tear it
+down from its airy height, and would have succeeded had not both Tessa
+and Tasso resolutely opposed him.
+
+"First they sought to make him stop by appealing to his feelings, asking
+him how he would like to have his cottage ruined, his home desolated;
+but at this he only mocked and jeered. Then they urged that birds had
+the same right to live and rear their young as had human beings; which
+having no more effect, they openly forbade his attempt, saying that the
+ground was theirs, the birds were their friends, and they should defend
+them. Blows followed, Tessa and Tasso bearing their part bravely, and
+compelling the young ruffian to take himself off. Little did they know
+whom they were defending.
+
+"Our King heard of the occurrence, and vowed unending friendship; so
+when the King of the Kobolds told him of the danger impending at
+Vesuvius I was at once sent for to convey the information, and do what I
+could to save the lives of Tessa and Tasso. It took but a whiff of my
+pipe to bring me to the desired place, but so calm and bright and
+peaceful was the scene that I found it hard to believe in the
+threatening evil. Never had I seen a bluer sky reflected in a more
+silvery mirror than were the clouds and bay of Naples that day. The
+people were merry and careless, tending their cattle, gathering their
+fruit, singing their songs, and as indifferent to their old enemy as if
+he had never harmed them.
+
+"How should I approach the object of my mission? how put fear into the
+hearts of joyous innocence? Their father had bidden them go to the city
+with a load of oranges. These were to be conveyed in large baskets, or
+panniers, on the back of a faithful donkey. If I could keep them away
+from home, delay them by some pretext from returning for at least a day,
+I might aid them. So with this determination I proceeded to act.
+
+"At every place or with every person to whom they offered their fruit I
+whispered objections, asked if their prices were not very high, or if
+the fruit were not picked too early. So well did I succeed that I had
+nearly upset my own plans, for poor Tessa, becoming discouraged, wanted
+to return home at once, but Tasso stoutly declared he would sell every
+orange before going back--that his fruit was good and ripe, and it
+should be appreciated. I was pained to see Tessa's tears, but what could
+I do? Already thick smoke was pouring down the mountain's side, and so
+many were the rumbling sounds that although these children were
+accustomed to such disturbances, fears began to assail them.
+
+"They were now well away from home, and had paused at the roadside to
+eat their bread-and-cheese. People were becoming unusually numerous.
+Excitement was prevailing, and Tessa saw with alarm women and children
+hurrying past. At that moment a travelling carriage appeared. One could
+see at a glance from its neat compactness that it was English. I put my
+head in the window, and whispered something. At once a gray-haired lady
+leaned out, and beckoned to Tessa, who tremblingly obeyed.
+
+"'My child,' said the lady, kindly, 'I want some oranges. Can you give
+them to me quickly? You know we have no time to spare.'
+
+"'Yes, madame,' said Tessa. 'But what is the matter? You and every one
+look so anxious.'
+
+"Instantly, as she spoke, there was a terrible quivering of the earth,
+which made every one shudder. The driver could scarcely hold his horses;
+they plunged and reared and trembled.
+
+"'Ah! we cannot wait,' said the lady; but seeing the terrified looks of
+the children, she paused to ask, 'Are you children alone?'
+
+"'Entirely so, signorina.'
+
+"'And where are you going?'
+
+"'Home, to the mountain.'
+
+"'You cannot go there; it is too late.' Then with a sudden resolution
+she turned to the maid beside her. 'We will take them with us; their
+load is too heavy for them to get on fast enough. Quick! quick! Leave
+your donkey; he is tired; every one is so frightened he will not be
+stolen if he escapes. Come in here,' pushing open the carriage door.
+
+"Tessa turned irresolutely to Tasso, who was also uncertain what to do;
+but the tone was imperative; they were accustomed to obey. Crowds were
+now jostling them; women were crying; children were pushed hither and
+thither, their little toys trodden underfoot, more a grievance to them
+than the quaking earth. With a regretful glance at the donkey, Tessa and
+Tasso jumped into the carriage, which drove away as fast as the
+frightened horses could get through the throng. Miles and miles away
+they went until the horses could go no farther. Then they stopped for
+the night at a little inn overflowing with strangers, where they heard
+that Vesuvius was pouring forth lava, and where they could see the lurid
+glare of its flames reddening the evening sky. They were saved. My
+mission was fulfilled."
+
+Paz stopped; but Leo was unsatisfied.
+
+"And what became of them? Did they ever go home again? Were their father
+and mother killed?"
+
+"No; their parents escaped, but their home was buried in ashes. The
+children were cared for by the English lady until it was safe to return.
+All that was left them was the one poor donkey which, unharmed, strayed
+back to the place of its past abode, and with it they began a trade in
+lava which proved very remunerative."
+
+"Trade in lava?" repeated Leo, inquisitively.
+
+"Yes; the people pour melted lava in moulds before it cools, and so
+fashion ornaments out of it--perhaps they also carve it. I know they
+color it beautifully, for I have had to carry bracelets made of it to
+various people with whom we are on friendly terms, and they were blue as
+a bird's egg or turquoise."
+
+"How curious!"
+
+"No; they were not remarkable, not half as singular as coral
+formations."
+
+"What are they?"
+
+"Don't tell me you know nothing of coral!"
+
+"I believe I have seen it, but that is all."
+
+"Coral is made by wonderful little animals who live and die in its cells
+until their structures are big enough for islands; but I will leave that
+to Knops: my plan is not to cram."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+
+"Well," said Leo, "you are not going to stop, I hope."
+
+"Oh no," said Paz, cheerfully, "I can spin yarns with any sailor. What
+will you have now?"
+
+"Something funny."
+
+"I wish I could oblige you, but fun is not my strong point. I went from
+Greenland to the South Seas one day in search of a laugh, but I failed
+to find it; indeed I came near doing worse, for in getting into the hoop
+of a native's nose-ring for a swing--just by way of a new sensation--I
+forgot to make myself invisible, and he caught me, thought I was a
+spider, and would have crushed me, had not a baby put out its little
+hands in glee to play with me. I can assure you I was for a time averse
+to trying new sensations."
+
+"How did you get out of your scrape?"
+
+"I travelled down that baby's back in a hurry, and hid in an ant-hill;
+he poked about with his little black fingers for a quarter of an hour,
+but he did not find me. Ah, those were the days of my youth!"
+
+"Do you ever have anything to do with witches?"
+
+"Mark my words, ghosts and witches live only in the imagination of silly
+human beings. We useful people scorn them. Now imps might be said to
+belong to the same family were it not for the proofs we have of their
+existence. They are everlastingly getting children into trouble by
+suggesting things to them they never would have thought of--"
+
+"Such as what?"
+
+"Do you suppose I am going to tell you? No, indeed; they can do it fast
+enough for themselves. Persons who take too much wine are their most
+constant companions; they pounce upon them and twitch and tease and
+torment them until the poor wine-bibber trembles from head to foot. They
+won't let him sleep or eat or think, and fairly drive him crazy. Oh,
+imps are really to be dreaded! But I must now begin my second story."
+
+
+PAZ'S SECOND STORY
+
+"There was to be a grand birthday festival among the Fays, who inhabit
+the tropics. The wind fairies had brought us news of it as well as
+urgent invitations for our royal family to be present; but so deeply
+engrossed was our King at that moment in supplying the oil wells of
+Pennsylvania with petroleum that he could not absent himself. The Queen
+never goes from home without her liege lord.
+
+"The princes and princesses were all too young, and could not be allowed
+to leave their lessons; so the regrets were inscribed on lotus leaves,
+and sent by special messenger--a bird of the Cypselina family. He was a
+great sooty-black fellow, with a tinge of green in his feathers,
+strong, well able to fly, as his family generally do from America to
+Asia. But the gift could not be intrusted to him. I was chosen as bearer
+of that.
+
+"Much discussion had taken place as to what this gift should be. It was
+desirable that nothing ordinary should be offered, for the Fays are, as
+a rule, fastidious. Gems they possess in abundance. Flowers are so
+common that their beds are made of them. Their books are 'the running
+brooks,' and their art treasures hang on every bough. The Queen had
+woven a veil of lace with her own fingers; it was filmy and exquisite,
+but my heart sank within me when she declared that nothing less than a
+wreath of snow-flakes must accompany it. To obtain this wreath and carry
+it to the Fays as a birthday gift was to be my duty.
+
+"How should I accomplish it? I dared not suggest the difficulties, for
+at once I should have been displaced, and another elf chosen for the
+performance of this arduous task. Besides, if it could be accomplished
+by any one, I must be that person, having always been unwilling ever to
+allow difficulties to deter me from any duty. Pride of the right sort
+is a great help. I went to the frost-workers and told them what I
+wanted. They said they could imitate any flower; but the Queen had
+expressly said that the wreath must be of snow-flakes. Now the fantastic
+impulse of a snow-storm is well known, but it is not so generally known
+that there is a scientific accuracy even in the formation of
+snow-flakes."
+
+Here Paz stopped, shook his head, smiled, and said, "I do believe I am
+as bad as Knops."
+
+"Please go on," said Leo.
+
+"Well, you must forgive me, for I shall have to tell you that the
+frost-workers said there were no less than a thousand different forms
+among the crystals of which snow-flakes are made.
+
+"Now how could I tell what pattern to choose? It was impossible; so I
+told them I should have nothing to do with the pattern. 'Make the
+wreath,' said I, 'box it, and I will carry it, or die in the attempt.'
+
+"They did so. The crystals were more beautiful than diamond stars. They
+put it in a solid square of ice, which was packed in charcoal and straw,
+and then cased in cocoa matting. To this I attached cords, and slung it
+about my neck. The veil, in a satin case half an inch square, was in my
+wallet.
+
+"I started in the track of the marten that carried the despatches, but
+changed my course many times, striving to keep in cold currents.
+Finding, however, that as I neared the Equator this was impossible, I
+took to the sea, and went down to its highway. Of course I had on
+garments impervious to water--that is to say, water-proof--and my wallet
+was as dry as a bone; but not being in the habit of travelling under
+ocean, my eyes were a little affected by the salt, and I became
+conscious that I was being followed.
+
+"Fishes, you know, are not down on the hard rocky bed of the sea, and I
+had passed the homes of mermen, so I was puzzled to know who could be my
+enemy. I would not so much as betray my fears by looking behind, and I
+had enough to do in looking forward, for at every other step there were
+fissures which had to be leaped, deep abysses to be avoided, chasms to
+be crossed, and sands which might ingulf me.
+
+"Still, as I struggled on, I could hear the sound of other feet
+following mine, now nearing me, now farther away, as my speed asserted
+itself. It made me shiver to think what might be my fate, and I can
+honestly say that the thought of failing to fulfill my errand bore as
+heavily upon me as the sense of personal dangers; for it is a great
+thing to be trusted, to be looked upon as honest and true, and deemed
+capable of transacting affairs even of small moment.
+
+"But this was not a trifling matter. The neglect to deliver this gift
+could bring about serious trouble. The Fays were our friends, and
+friendship is never to be slighted. It is not kind to allow selfish
+matters to stand in the way when we are bidden to a joyous celebration,
+and had not our King felt that the claims of man were more urgent than
+those of the Fays he would have attended this feast in person. As he
+could not, the gift was to represent him. I trust I have made it clear
+to you."
+
+"Quite so," said Leo. "But I am crazy to know who was following you."
+
+"So was I at that time, and I resolved to get into the first empty shell
+I could find where I might hide. There was soon an opportunity. A heap
+of cast-off shells presented itself, and I popped into an enormous crab
+cover, where I waited for my unknown companion to overtake me.
+
+"As the steps came near I peeped carefully out, and what should I see
+but an ugly South American river-wolf, about three and a half feet long,
+with a short, close fur of a bright ruddy yellow. I could not imagine
+what had brought him after me, but the ways of the wicked are often
+difficult to explain. There he was, and if once he could get me within
+reach I was lost. On he came, snuffing and barking like a dog, making my
+very hair stand on end. I waited for him to pass, but I think his
+instinct must have told him I had paused, for he began to turn over the
+shells with his ugly nose, as if searching for something. My single
+weapon was a small dirk, as we kill only in self-defence.
+
+"Bracing myself against the wall of my slight shelter, I stood in
+expectation of an assault, and I had not long to wait. With an angry cry
+he rushed upon me. His size seemed to me enormous, but my little knife
+was a trusty blade, and with a great effort I drew it across his
+dreadful throat.
+
+"I will not dwell on these particulars. I had overcome my enemy. I
+resumed my journey, and soon came to a region of the most beautiful
+water-plants growing in greatest profusion. I knew by these that I was
+not far from the home of the Fays.
+
+"I neglected to tell you that before starting out the chief frost-worker
+had given me a small vial of clear liquid, which, in case of any danger
+from heat, I was to use for the preservation of the snow-wreath. In my
+tussle with the wolf this vial must have become partly uncorked, for I
+became aware of a strong odor diffusing itself about me, and an
+overpowering sleepiness getting the better of me. I had drawn the bottle
+out, recorked it, and put it away again; but this was no sooner done
+than I fell in a sleepy swoon on the roadside.
+
+"I have no idea how long I slept: there is neither day nor night down
+there, only a dim sort of twilight, which at times becomes illuminated
+by the phosphorescent rays of fishes, or the fitful gleam of ocean
+glow-worms. I was startled from my swoon by a rattling, dragging noise,
+and came very near being scooped up by an uncouth-looking iron thing
+which was attached to a cable. It flashed upon me, stupid as I was, that
+this must be a deep-sea dredge; and as I was not at all inclined to be
+hauled up on shipboard, in a lot of mud and shells as a rare specimen of
+the sea, I got as quickly out of the way as possible.
+
+"But it was now time for me to get on _terra firma,_ as Knops would say,
+or dry land, as I prefer to put it. Among the beautiful vermilion leaves
+or tentacles of the curious half animals and half flowers I observed a
+vine not unlike the honeysuckle, only of tougher fibre. On this I
+clambered up to take a look about me, and discovered that I was much
+nearer shore than I supposed. Hardly had I done this when, to my horror,
+I saw the arms of an octopus stretching towards me, its horid beak
+projecting from between its ugly eyes. More alarmed than at any previous
+danger, I strove to retain my self-command, but the fearful creature was
+already touching me. Remembering, with wits sharpened by distress, the
+effect of the drug in my little bottle, I drew out the cork, and making
+a sudden lunge, dashed the ether in its face--if you can so call any
+part of its disgusting head.
+
+"Instantly it lost all power over its members, curled up in a writhing,
+wriggling mass, and I with a bound reached the sandy shore."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+
+Paz, taking a long breath, and looking at Leo to see the effect of his
+narrative, went on:
+
+"It was quite time for me to be on land, for in the moonlight, which
+bathed everything in silver, were to be seen troops of fays hurrying to
+the festival. Some sailed along the shore in mussel shells, others were
+on the backs of black swans whose bills looked like coral, and others
+were skimming along with their own gauzy wings, or lolling luxuriously
+on the feathers of flamingoes.
+
+"I joined the ones on foot, and with them reached the plantation, which
+presented a scene of great brilliancy. Gold and silver ferns hedged the
+rose-leaf path which led to the bower of beauty; on every leaf were
+myriads of fireflies, and glowing from higher plants bearing many-hued
+flowers were Brazilian beetles. Plunging into the thicket, I made a
+hasty toilet at a brook-side, and then rejoined the advancing guests.
+The bell-bird could be heard clearly summoning our approach, while
+sweetest warblers poured out their melody. The throne was formed of the
+Santo-Spirito flowers, and beneath the wings of its dove-like calyx was
+the lovely fay in whose honor was all this gayety, surrounded by her
+young companions.
+
+"Approaching quickly, I unstrapped my package, took the satin case from
+my pocket, and fell upon my knees in the customary manner; perceiving
+which, the beautiful being motioned for me to rise, and with the most
+unassuming grace received my burden. As she unfolded the lace from its
+silken cover a cry of delight escaped her, and shaking out its gossamer
+folds she threw it over her head. With all the care I could use I had
+laid bare the block of ice, which shone like silver in the moonbeams,
+and now with a sudden blow of my dagger I cleft the ice, and lifted out
+the wreath, placing it as I did so on the head of the fay.
+
+"There was no time for ceremony. Had I waited to pass it from hand to
+hand of the attendants it would have been gone. There was a hush over
+all as I crowned the fay. Each snowy star stood out in perfect beauty.
+She alone could not see its peerless charm. But I had provided for this.
+Chipping off a thin layer of the ice-block, I laid a silver-lined leaf
+from a neighboring bough behind it, and held this mirror before the
+fay's wondering eyes. Never have I seen anything so beautiful or so
+fleeting. Even as I held the reflected image before its reality, drops
+as of dew began falling over the lace, and in a moment the wreath was
+gone.
+
+"Like a little child robbed of a treasure, the look of wonder and
+delight gave place to one of bewildered disappointment. She turned a
+questioning gaze upon me.
+
+"'Alas!' said I, 'most sovereign lady, 'tis not in elfin power to
+reproduce this wreath; it was the emblem of human life, as brief, as
+fleeting. My Queen desired me to bring it. I have met with great
+difficulties in so doing, but none has saddened me like your
+disappointment.'
+
+"With eager sweetness she bade her cavaliers respond. They assured me of
+her gratitude and delight, and bade me welcome. The warbling birds again
+started their liquid strains, and a mazy dance began which resembled a
+fluttering band of snowy butterflies tangled in a silvery web. Slipping
+off, I came to the side of a lake on which were boats and Indian canoes
+of the moccasin flower. Here I rested, watching the measures of the
+dance, and taking little refreshing sips of cocoa-nut milk. A
+swift-winged night-hawk having been placed at my disposal, I had a safe
+and speedy journey home."
+
+"And is that all?" inquired Leo.
+
+"Yes," said Paz, "for here comes Master Knops."
+
+Leo thanked Paz warmly, and turned towards Knops, who, with hat in hand,
+stood gravely waiting to speak.
+
+"Is it the wish of Prince Leo to make further explorations, or will he
+now return to his father and his home?"
+
+With some self-reproach at having quite forgotten that he had a father
+and a home, Leo said he was ready to return.
+
+"And may his humble servants, the distinguished savant Paz and the
+Master Professor Knops, have the pleasant assurance of Prince Leo's
+satisfaction at this visit?" asked Knops, still in the most formal
+manner.
+
+"I cannot thank you half as I should like to do," replied Leo, "but I
+hope to be able to show you that your entertainment and instruction have
+not been wasted."
+
+"Come, then, we will go."
+
+"Adieu," said Paz. "Look out for me some fine frosty night when you are
+skating. You may think you see some of your furry friends startled out
+of their winter sleep, but just give a whistle, and say 'Paz,' and I
+will be with you."
+
+"Good-bye," said Leo. "I hope it will be soon that I shall see you."
+
+But Knops was off and he had to follow. Away they went, climbing and
+clambering, slipping and sliding, crawling and jumping, through forests
+of coal, over mines of iron, and beside walls glittering with silver.
+Presently, however, Leo found himself where they had started from, viz.,
+his own cellar door, and Knops preparing to leave him. Dropping his
+ceremonious manner, he said:
+
+"I am sorry to bid you farewell, my dear boy; I have become heartily
+interested in you and your welfare. The only souvenir I have to offer is
+this little compass; it is a mere trifle, but the needle has the power
+of finding precious metals. Learn how to make it useful. Good-bye."
+
+Leo found himself alone. He pushed open the cellar door, and mounted the
+steps to the kitchen. It was early morning, and the cocks were crowing
+lustily. The one old deaf woman was striving to make a fire burn, but
+the wood was wet and she found it difficult.
+
+"Where are all the people?" shouted Leo in her ear, for he well knew her
+infirmity.
+
+"Gone--all gone," she answered.
+
+"And my father, where is he?"
+
+"In bed yet, and he had better stay there, for I've no breakfast for
+him."
+
+Leo suspected what was the matter. Taking a basket from a peg, and a
+bowl from the dresser, he went out into the fields. Everything was
+sodden with the rain, but the birds were singing with all their might;
+those that were not were repairing the ravages of the storm.
+
+"Even the birds are busy at their nests," thought Leo; "everything,
+every creature, has its work to do. Shall I alone be idle? Never."
+
+Putting aside the wet boughs, which sprinkled him well, he sought an old
+tree-trunk for its store of honey. Filling his bowl with this, and his
+basket with fresh eggs, he returned to the monastery. Here he helped the
+old woman with the fire, and between them they soon had the kettle
+steaming. The tray with his father's breakfast was made ready, and with
+his own hands he took it to him.
+
+"Leo, my long-lost son," exclaimed Morpheus at sight of him, "where have
+you spent the night?"
+
+"In Dream-land," was Leo's reply; and then, without preface, he asked of
+his parent the privilege of looking over his accounts, and doing what he
+could to assist him in his difficulties. Morpheus smiled indifferently,
+but gave Leo his keys, with permission to do as he pleased.
+
+All the morning Leo puzzled his brain examining books and papers, with
+little result. Then he saddled his horse, rode into the nearest town,
+and sought a lawyer whom his father knew. To him he related their
+grievances, telling him that he was sure their property, well managed,
+could be made to yield handsome returns, and informing him of his
+wonderful compass, which could indicate the presence of minerals. The
+lawyer was not very sanguine, but he put a young clerk in charge of the
+matter, who, becoming much interested, looked up his residence at the
+monastery, and went to work with diligence. Under his guidance Leo
+studied and strove to regain their former prosperity. Laborers were
+eager to resume their duties as soon as they saw the prospect of
+payment. Crops became abundant. By the aid of Leo's compass--which was
+only a scientific novelty yet to be discovered--mines were opened and
+vast wealth displayed.
+
+And Leo had become a different lad. No longer idle and careless, with
+slow and lingering tread, he was now alert, vigorous, and manly. The
+servants were glad to return and obey his wishes. The monastery was
+rebuilt and repaired. Lawns and gardens were in trim array. Warm
+tapestries and curtains lined the bare walls and windows, while ivy and
+rose clambered without.
+
+Even Morpheus, roused from his invalidism, rewrote his poems, sent them
+to a publisher, and favored all his friends with copies bound in blue
+velvet, with his monogram in silver on the covers. His pride in his son
+became so great that at Leo's request he undertook to renew the library,
+and the time that he had spent in bed was devoted to the step-ladder. It
+was in this way he discovered that their name had been incorrectly
+written. For his own part he did not care to make any change, but he
+insisted that Leo should use the portion omitted, which an old copy of
+the Doomsday-book had revealed to him, and sign himself in full, "Leo
+Sans Lazybones."
+
+Christmas was approaching; not a green Christmas, but an icy, snowy,
+frozen one, with holly wreaths on his shoulders and a plum-pudding in
+his hands.
+
+The monastery was full of guests, relatives of Morpheus. These guests
+were all poor--in one way--but they had a wealth of their own which made
+them delightful to Leo. They were poets and painters and scribblers, and
+as merry as larks; and as they all admired each others productions,
+there was no end of cheerful nonsense. The children, however, were the
+brightest of all. Each child was as merry as it was lovely, and the
+painters were almost frantic in their efforts to make Christmas cards of
+them, while the poets cudgelled their brains for rhymes.
+
+To prevent too much industry in that way, Leo had induced them all to
+put on their skates on Christmas-eve, and glide over the frozen ponds,
+while he made ready the tree which stood in the great hall.
+
+It was an immense spruce, all powdered with silvery fringe, and Leo had
+only to tie on the little gilt tags numbered to correspond with the
+packages of gifts, which were heaped on surrounding tables, and fasten
+on the candles of red and blue wax. When this was done he put on his own
+skates, for it was yet too early to light the tree, and away he went
+skimming after the shouting, laughing crowd of friends and relatives.
+
+Suddenly a squirrel darted from its hole, and went scudding across the
+river. Leo started in pursuit, giving a low whistle. Instantly it
+stopped, sat upon its haunches, threw off its skin, and out stepped Paz.
+
+"Good-evening, my dear Prince, good-evening; we are well met; just in
+time to exchange Christmas greetings. I have been looking for you
+lately, but you seemed always so occupied that there was no chance for
+me. You have no idea how pleased Knops is to hear of your prosperity. He
+has sent for me a dozen times lately merely to express his satisfaction;
+and he wants me to ask a favor of you, which I know already you will
+grant."
+
+"Anything in my power, dear Paz," replied Leo, eagerly.
+
+"Of course; and we know how good a use you make of your power. Times
+are greatly changed. You are benefiting every one about you; I hear it
+on all sides. We are proud to be your friends. All that Knops asks is
+that in clearing up your property, and cutting down all the rank growth
+of weeds, you will spare a patch of wild-flowers here and there, and all
+the empty birds' nests. Leave these for the use of our children, and we
+will be greatly obliged."
+
+"But that is a mere nothing; can I in any other way serve you?" asked
+Leo.
+
+"No," said Paz, "not that I know of. I am on my way now to see some new
+minerals supposed to be similar to those of the moon. I haven't much
+faith in them."
+
+"How about the diamonds?"
+
+"Don't mention them. I shall never try my hand at those again; and you,
+if you are wise, will be contented to let Nature remain her own chemist.
+Adieu. A very merry Christmas to you."
+
+"The same to you," echoed Leo, but Paz was already muffled in his furs
+and running rapidly away.
+
+
+
+
+PHIL'S FAIRIES
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE WIND HARP
+
+
+"Oh, Lisa, how many stars there are to-night! and how long it takes to
+count just a few!" said a weak voice from a little bed in a garret room.
+
+"You will tire yourself, dear, if you try to do that; just shut your
+eyes up tight, and try to sleep."
+
+"Will you put my harp in the window? there may be a breeze after a
+while, and I want to know very much if there is any music in those
+strings."
+
+"Where did you get them, my darling,"
+
+"From Joe."
+
+"Joe, the fiddler?"
+
+"Yes; he brought me a handful of old catgut; he says he does not play
+any more at dances; he is so old and lame that they like a younger
+darkey who knows more fancy figures, and can be livelier. He _is_ very
+black, Lisa, and I am almost afraid of him; but he is so kind, and he
+tells me stories about his young days, and all the gay people he used to
+see. Hark! that is my harp; oh, Lisa, is it not heavenly?"
+
+"I don't know," said poor, tired Lisa, half asleep, after her long day's
+work of standing in a shop.
+
+Phil's harp was a shallow box, across which he had fastened some violin
+strings rather loosely; and Phil himself was an invalid boy who had
+never known what it was to be strong and hardy, able to romp and run, or
+leap and shout. He had neither father nor mother, but no one could have
+loved him more or have been any gentler or more considerate than was
+Lisa--poor, plain Lisa--who worked early and late to pay for Phil's
+lodging in the top of the old house where they lived, and whose whole
+earthly happiness consisted in making Phil happy and comfortable. It was
+not always easy to do this, for Phil was a strange child; aside from the
+pain that he suffered, he had odd fancies and strange likings, the
+result of his illness and being so much alone. And Lisa could not always
+understand him, for she lived among other people--rough, plain, careless
+people, for whom she toiled, and who had no such thoughts as Phil had.
+
+From the large closet that served as her bedroom Lisa often heard Phil
+talking, talking, talking, now to this thing, now to that, as if it were
+real and had a personality; sometimes his words were addressed to a
+rose-bush she had brought him, or the pictures of an old volume she had
+found on a stall of cheap books at a street corner, or the little
+plaster cast that an image-seller had coaxed her to purchase. Then,
+again, he would converse, with his knife and fork or plate, ask them
+where they came from, how they were made, and of what material. No
+answer coming, he would invent all sorts of answers, making them reply
+in his own words.
+
+Lisa was so used to these imaginary conversations that they did not seem
+strange to her.
+
+Phil had, too, a passion for music, and would listen intently to the
+commonest strains of a hand-organ, and Lisa had given him a little toy
+harmonica, from which he would draw long, sweet tones and chords with
+much satisfaction.
+
+Old Joe, who blackened boots for some of the lodgers, had heard the
+child's attempts at music, and had brought his violin and played for
+him. One day, happening to leave it for a while on the window-ledge,
+Phil's quick ear had detected a low vibration from the instrument. This
+circumstance, and something he had read about a wind harp, had given him
+the wish to make one--with what success he was anxious to find out, when
+Lisa laid it in the open window for him.
+
+A soft south wind was blowing, and, as Phil spoke, it had stirred the
+loose strings of the rude Aeolian harp, and a slight melodious sound had
+arisen, which Phil had thought so beautiful. He drew his breath even
+more softly, lest he should lose the least tone, and finding that Lisa
+was really asleep, propped himself up higher on his pillows, and gazed
+out at the starlit heavens.
+
+He often talked to the stars, but very softly and wonderingly, and
+somehow he could never find any answers that suited him; but to-night,
+as the breeze made a low soft music come from his wind harp, filling him
+with delight, it seemed to him that a voice was accompanying the melody,
+and that the stars had something to do with it; for, as he gazed, he saw
+a troop of little beings with gauzy wings fluttering over the
+window-ledge, and upon the brow of each twinkled a tiny star, and the
+leading one of all this bevy of wee people sang:
+
+  "Come from afar,
+  Here we are! here we are!
+  From you Silver Star,
+  Fays of the Wind,
+  To children kind."
+
+"How lovely they are!" thought Phil. "And so these really are fairies. I
+never saw any before. They have wings like little white butterflies, and
+how tiny their hands and feet, and what graceful motions they have as
+they dance over my harp! They seem to be examining it to find out where
+the music comes from; but no, of course they know all about it. I wonder
+if they would talk to me?"
+
+"Of course we will be very glad to," said a soft little voice in reply
+to his thoughts.
+
+"I was afraid I would frighten you away if I spoke," said Phil, gently.
+
+"Oh no," replied the fairy who had addressed him; "we are in the habit
+of talking to children, though they do not always know it."
+
+"And what do you tell them?" asked Phil, eagerly.
+
+"All sorts of nice things."
+
+"Do you tell them all they want to know?"
+
+"Oh no," laughed the fairy, with a silvery little voice like a
+canary-bird's. "We cannot do that, for we do not know enough to be able
+to: some children are much wiser than we. I dare say you are."
+
+"Indeed I am not," said Phil, a little sadly; "there are so many things
+that puzzle me. I thought that perhaps, as you came from the stars, you
+knew something of astronomy."
+
+"What a long, long word that is!" laughed the fairy again. "But we are
+wind fairies; and yet the Father of the Winds is called Astraeus: that
+sounds something like your long word, does it not?"
+
+"It sounds more like Astrea, and that means a star."
+
+"Why, where did you learn so much?"
+
+"I saw it in a big book called a dictionary."
+
+"Another long word. Doesn't your head ache?"
+
+"Sometimes, not now. I have not any books now, except picture-books."
+
+"Did you ever have?"
+
+"Oh yes; when papa was living we had books and pictures and many
+beautiful things; but there was a great fire, and all sorts of trouble,
+and now I have only Lisa. But Lisa does not understand as papa did; it
+was he showed me that word in the dictionary."
+
+"Oh, don't say that great ugly word again! Shall I tell my friends to
+make some more music?"
+
+"Yes, please."
+
+The wind fairy struck her little hands together, and waved her wings. In
+a moment the little white troop danced over the strings of the harp, and
+brought out sweet, wild strains, that made Phil nearly cry for joy. They
+seemed to be dancing as they did it, for they would join hands and sway
+to and fro; then, parting, they wound in and out in graceful,
+wreath-like motions, and the tiny stars on their foreheads flashed like
+diamonds. Up and down they went, the length of the strings, then across,
+then back again; and all the time the sweet wild music kept vibrating.
+"How lovely! how lovely!" said Phil, when there was a pause.
+
+"I am so glad you like it! we often make music for people, and they
+hardly hear it," said the fairy.
+
+"I do not see how they can help hearing," said Phil.
+
+"Why, I'll tell you how: we frequently are in the tree-tops, or whirling
+about low bushes; every soft breeze that blows has some of our music in
+it, for there are many of us; and yet very few people pay attention to
+these sounds."
+
+"When the wind screams and roars in winter, is it you, then, who does
+that too?" asked Phil.
+
+"Oh no," said the fairy, rustling her wings in some displeasure. "We are
+of the South Wind only, and have no such rude doings; I hope I may never
+have any work to do for the North Wind, he is so blustery. Now it is
+time you went to sleep, and we cannot stay longer, for if the moon rises
+we cannot see our star-beams, and might lose our way. We will just fan
+you a little, and you will soon be in Dream-land."
+
+As she spoke, Phil saw her beckon to her troupe, and they all flocked
+about him, dazzling him so with their starry coronets that he was forced
+to shut his eyes, and as he closed them he felt a gentle wafting as of a
+hundred little wings about his forehead, and in another moment he was
+asleep.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+PHIL'S NEW FRIEND
+
+
+Old black Joe had not always been either a boot-black or fiddler. In his
+youthful days he had been a house-servant, and had prided himself on his
+many accomplishments--his dexterity at dinners, his grace at evening
+parties, the ease and unconcern with which he could meet embarrassing
+emergencies at either. But times had changed for him: his old employers
+had died, a scolding wife had made his home unhappy, he had lost the
+little money he had saved, and he was no longer the bright, cheerful
+young fellow he had been. Age and rheumatism had made him crusty; but
+beneath the outward manner, which sometimes was very cross, he had a
+tender heart and a pitiful nature.
+
+Of late years he had picked up enough for his support in the many little
+ways incident to city life. He could whitewash, sweep chimneys, run on
+errands--or rather walk on them, and that, too, very slowly. He
+shovelled snow and carried coal, sawed wood and helped the servants at
+whose homes he was employed.
+
+His occupations took him about to many houses, but he always irritated
+the people with whom he came in contact by invariably assuring them that
+their masters and mistresses were not of the real stuff that ladies and
+gentlemen of _his_ day were made of; that fine feathers did not make
+fine birds; that people nowadays were all alike, and had no manners.
+
+He made one exception only, in favor of a maiden lady whose parents he
+had known, whose servants were kind to him, and whose retired and
+dignified way of living quite suited his fastidiousness.
+
+This was a Miss Schuyler; and nothing pleased Joe more than to have this
+one person, whom he regarded with unqualified admiration, send for him
+to bestow the monthly allowance she was in the habit of giving him. On
+the day that he expected this summons he always gave an extra touch to
+his toilet, exchanged his torn coat for a patched one, his slouch hat
+for a very much worn beaver adorned with a band of rusty crape, and out
+of the pocket of his coat, but never upon his hands, was to be seen an
+old pair of yellow kid gloves.
+
+In the course of Joe's wanderings he had chanced to, hear of the
+invalid boy Phil, who liked to listen to his fiddle, and it did not take
+long to strike up an acquaintance between them.
+
+Often on a rainy day, or when work was dull, Joe would spend an hour or
+two with Phil, relieving his loneliness, soothing his pain, and cheering
+him with his music and his rambling talk about "old times" and the
+people he had seen.
+
+It was the latter part of May, and had been very warm; but Joe buttoned
+up his best coat and donned his beaver, for his pay was due at Miss
+Schuyler's. She lived in a large house, rather imposing and handsome,
+and in the gayest part of the city; but she was by no means imposing or
+gay in her own person. A little figure, simply dressed, a kind face
+without beauty, a gentle manner, and a certain gracious kindliness and
+familiarity had endeared her to Joe. On this day she was not, as usual,
+sitting with her work in the library, where the sun poured in on the
+bronzes and richly bound volumes, on the old engravings and the frescoed
+ceiling--for Miss Schuyler liked light and warmth and color--but she was
+away up in the top of the house, directing her maids in the packing of
+blankets and woollens and furs, preparatory to leaving her house for the
+summer. Joe had mounted stair after stair seeking her, and by the time
+he reached her was quite out of breath; this, and the odor of camphor
+and cedar-wood, made him sneeze and cough until Miss Schuyler said to
+one of the maids in a whisper, "The poor old soul would have been black
+in the face had he ever been white."
+
+To Joe himself she said, very kindly, "My good old friend, you need not
+have taken so much trouble to see me; I could have come down to you."
+
+"Laws, Miss Rachel, I knew you was busy, and nuffin's ever a trouble to
+do for you; I go to the tops of houses often--just come from one where
+poor Phil's a-groanin' with pain. That chile'll die if somebody don't do
+suthin' fur him soon."
+
+"What child?" asked Miss Schuyler, whose tender point was her love of
+children. "You haven't any grandchildren, Joe, have you?"
+
+"No, Miss Rachel, de Lord nebber trusted me with any chil'en."
+
+"Well, who is Phil?" said Miss Schuyler, absently; adding, to one of
+her maids, "Take care of that afghan; wrap it in an old linen sheet; it
+was knitted by a very dear friend, and I do not want it moth-eaten; I
+had rather lose a camel's-hair shawl." Which evidence or regard seemed
+very extravagant to the girl who was obeying instructions, but which Joe
+thought he appreciated.
+
+"Haven't I tole ye about Phil, Miss Rachel?"
+
+"I don't know. I don't think you have. But come down to my room, Joe,
+and then I can listen to your story."
+
+Giving a few more directions, Miss Rachel led the way to a lovely sunny
+room, with flower-baskets in the windows, soft blue draperies, and
+delicate appointments. Seating herself at a desk and pointing Joe to a
+chair, upon which the old man carefully spread a silk handkerchief lest
+his clothes should soil the blue cushions, she counted out the money due
+him, and placed it in an envelope, saying as she did so, "Now tell me
+about that child."
+
+"It's a white chile, Miss Rachel."
+
+"Well, I like white children, Joe, though I must confess the little
+colored ones are much more interesting," said Miss Rachel, smiling.
+
+"I thought you liked my people, Miss Rachel; but this poor Phil's a
+gentleman's son, very much come down far's money goes. He is too young
+to know much about it, but the girl who takes care of him was brought up
+in his family, and she says they was well off once."
+
+"But what about the boy?" asked Miss Schuyler, a little impatiently.
+
+"He's a great sufferer, but he's a wonderful chile. He loves to have me
+play for him, and then he tells me the thoughts that come to him from
+the music. I's no great player, Miss Rachel," said Joe, modestly, "but
+you'd think I was, to hear him talk. He sees fairies and he dreams
+beautiful things, and his big brown eyes look as if he could a'most see
+'way up into heaven. Oh, he's a strange chile; but he'll die if he stays
+up in that garret room and nebber sees the green fields he's so hungry
+for."
+
+Miss Rachel's eyes were moist, but she took a card and pencil from her
+desk. "Where does he live--in what street and what number?"
+
+"I'm sorry, Miss Rachel--You jess go up the Avenue, and turn down the
+fourth or fifth street, and up a block or two, and it's the fust house
+with a high stoop and green shutters. I allers go in the alleyway, so I
+forgit numbers."
+
+Miss Schuyler bit her lip to keep from smiling, thought a moment,
+scribbled a memorandum, rang the bell, and gave some more directions;
+left the room, and came back with her bonnet on. "Can you show me the
+way to Phil's house, Joe?"
+
+"Course I can, Miss Rachel," replied the old man, delighted that his
+words had aroused his listener's sympathies.
+
+"It's not very far; he's all alone, 'cause Lisa has to be away all day.
+And I shouldn't wonder"--here he dropped his voice to a whisper--"if
+sometimes he was hungry; but he'd nebber say so."
+
+This latter remark made Miss Schuyler bid Joe wait for her in the hall,
+while she went to a closet, found a basket, in which she placed a snowy
+napkin, some biscuit, some cold chicken, and a few delicious little
+cakes. In her pocket she put a little flask of some strong cordial she
+had found of service on her many errands of charity.
+
+How proud Joe was to be her escort! but how meekly he walked behind the
+lady whose footsteps he thought were those of a real gentlewoman, the
+only one to whom he would accord this compliment, although he passed
+many elegant dames in gay attire.
+
+The little gray figure, with its neat, quiet simplicity, was his
+embodiment of elegance, for somehow Joe had detected the delicate
+perfume of a sweet nature and a loving heart--a heart full of Christian
+charity and unselfishness.
+
+They walked for some distance, and the day was so warm that Miss
+Schuyler moderated her usual rapid pace to suit the old man's feebler
+steps. Off the Avenue a long way, up another, down a side street, until,
+amid a crowded, disagreeable neighborhood, Joe stopped.
+
+"You had better lead me still, Joe. The boy might be frightened or
+annoyed at seeing a stranger: I dare say he's nervous. Go up, and I will
+wait outside the door while you ask him if I may come and see him. Wait,
+there's a flower-stall a little way from here; I will get a bunch. Take
+my basket, and I will be back in a few moments. I am glad I thought of
+the flowers; children always like them."
+
+She hastened off, while Joe leaned on his cane and muttered blessings
+upon her; but some rude boys beginning to chaff him, he turned on them
+with his usual crustiness, and quite forgot his beatitudes.
+
+Miss Schuyler came back in a few minutes with a lovely bunch of bright
+blossoms embosomed in geranium leaves.
+
+"Now, then, Joe, this shall be my card; take it in, and tell Phil I am
+coming."
+
+"God bless you, Miss Rachel!" was all Joe could reply.
+
+Miss Rachel had her own way of doing things. It was nothing new for her
+to carry flowers and dainties to the sick poor. She had been much with
+sick people, and she knew that those who have no luxuries and few
+necessaries care for the things which do not really sustain life quite
+as much as do those who can command both.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+PHIL HAS A VISITOR
+
+
+Phil was alone, as indeed he was always, except on Sundays, or the few
+half-holidays that came to Lisa. Once in a while Lisa begged off, or
+paid another woman for doing an extra share of work in her place, if
+Phil was really too ill for her to leave him. The hot sun was pouring
+into the garret room, though a green paper shade made it less blinding,
+and Phil was lying back in a rocking-chair, wrapped in a shawl. On a
+small table beside him were some loose pictures from a newspaper, a
+pencil or two, and an old sketch-book, a pitcher of water, and an empty
+plate.
+
+The boy opened his closed eyes as Joe came in, after knocking, and
+looked surprised.
+
+"Why, Joe, what is the matter?" he asked. "You do not come twice a day
+very often."
+
+"No," said Joe, "nor are you always a-sufferin' as you was this mornin'.
+I've come to know how you are, and to bring you _that_," said he
+triumphantly putting the nosegay before the child's eyes.
+
+The boy nearly snatched the flowers out of Joe's hand in his eagerness
+to get them, and putting them to his face he kissed them in his delight.
+
+"Oh, Joe dear, I am _so_ much obliged! Oh, you darling, lovely flowers,
+how sweet you are! how delicious you smell! I never saw anything more
+beautiful. Where did they come from, Joe?"
+
+"Ah, you can't guess, I reckon."
+
+"No, of course not; they are so sweet, so perfect, they take all my pain
+away; and I have been nearly smothered with the heat to-day. Just see
+how cool they look, as if they had just been picked."
+
+"It's a pity the one who sent 'em can't hear ye. Shall I bring her in?"
+
+"Who, Joe--who do you mean?"
+
+"Joe means me," said a soft voice; "I sent them to you, and I am Miss
+Rachel Schuyler, an old friend of Joe's. I want to know you, Phil, and
+see if I cannot do something for that pain I hear you suffer so much
+with. Shall I put the flowers in water, so that they will last a little
+longer? Ah, no! you want to hold them, and breathe their sweet
+fragrance."
+
+Miss Schuyler had opened the door so gently, and appeared so entirely at
+home, that Phil took her visit quite as a matter of course, and though
+astonished, was not at all flurried. He fastened his searching gaze upon
+her, over the flowers which he held close to his lips, and made up his
+mind what to say. At last, after deliberating, he said, simply, "I thank
+you very much." His thoughts ran this way: "She is a real lady, a kind,
+lovely woman; she has on a nice dress--nicer than Lisa's; she has little
+hands, and what a soft pleasant voice! I wonder if my mother looked like
+her?"
+
+Miss Schuyler's thoughts were very pitiful. She was much moved by the
+pale little face and brilliant eyes, the pleased, shy expression, the
+air of refinement, and the very evident pain and poverty. She could not
+say much, and to hide her agitation took up the sketch-book, saying,
+"May I look in this, please?"
+
+Phil nodded, still over the flowers.
+
+As the leaves were opened, one after the other, Miss Schuyler became
+still more interested. The sketches were simply rude copies of newspaper
+pictures, but there was no doubt of the taste and talent that had
+directed their pencilling.
+
+"Have you ever had any teaching, Phil?" she asked.
+
+"No, ma'am," answered Joe for Phil, thinking he might be bashful. "He
+hasn't had no larnin' nor teachin' of anythin'; but it is what he wants,
+poor chile, and he often asks me things I can't answer for want of not
+knowin' nuthin' myself."
+
+"And what is this?" said Miss Schuyler, touching the box with violin
+strings across it, which was on a chair beside her.
+
+"Please don't touch it," answered Phil, anxiously; then fearing he had
+been rude, added, "It is my harp, and I am so afraid, if it is handled,
+that the fairies will never dance on it again. You ought to hear what
+lovely music comes out of it when the wind blows."
+
+Phil spoke as if fairies were his particular friends. Miss Schuyler
+looked at him pitifully, thinking him a little light-headed. Joe nodded,
+and looked wise, as much as to say, "I told you so."
+
+Just then Phil's pain came on again, and it was as much as he could do
+not to scream; but Miss Rachel saw the pallor of his face, and turning
+to Joe, asked:
+
+"Does he have a doctor? Is anything done for him?"
+
+"Nuthin', Miss Rachel, that I knows of. I never knew of his havin' a
+doctor."
+
+"Poor child!" said Miss Rachel, smoothing his forehead, and fanning him.
+Then she tucked a pillow behind him, and did all so gently that Phil
+took her hand and kissed it--it eased his pain so to have just these
+little things done for him. Then she poured a little of her cordial in a
+glass with some water, and he thought he had never tasted anything so
+refreshing. She sent Joe after some ice, and spreading her napkins out
+on Phil's table, set all her little store of dainties before him,
+tempting the child to eat in spite of his pain.
+
+Phil thought it was all the fairies' doing and not Joe's--poor pleased
+Joe--who looked on with a radiant face of delight. Phil would not eat
+unless Joe took one of his cakes, so the old fellow munched one to
+please him.
+
+Meanwhile Miss Schuyler gazed at the boy with more and more interest; a
+something she could hardly define attracted her. At first it had been
+his suffering and poverty, for her heart was tender, and she was always
+doing kind deeds; but now as she looked at him she saw in his face a
+likeness to some one she had loved, the look of an old and familiar
+friend, a look also of thought and ability, which only needed fostering
+to make of Phil a person of great use in the world--one who might be a
+leader rather than a follower in the path of industry and usefulness.
+The grateful little kiss on her hand had gone deeply into her heart.
+Phil must no longer be left alone: he must have good food and medical
+care and fresh air, and Lisa must be consulted as to how these things
+should be gained. So while Phil nibbled at the good things, and Joe
+chuckled and talked, half to himself and half to Phil, Miss Schuyler
+wrote a note to Lisa, asking her to come and see her that evening, if
+convenient, explaining how her interest had been aroused in Phil, and
+that she wanted to know more about him, and wanted to help him, and was
+sure she could make his life more comfortable, and that Lisa must take
+her interference kindly, for it was offered in a loving spirit. Then she
+folded the note, and gave it to Phil for Lisa, and arranging all his
+little comforts about him, bade him good-bye.
+
+Phil thought her face like that of an angel's when she stooped to kiss
+him; and after Joe, too, had hobbled off, promising to come again soon
+with his violin, he took up his pencil, and tried to sketch Miss
+Schuyler. Face after face was drawn, but none to his taste; first the
+nose was crooked, then the eyes were too small, then the mouth would be
+twisted, and just as Lisa came in, with a tired and flushed face, he
+threw his pencil away and began to sob.
+
+"Why, my dear Phil," said Lisa, in surprise, "are you so very miserable
+to-night?"
+
+"No, I am not miserable at all," said Phil, between his tears; "that is,
+I have had pain enough, but I have had such a lovely visitor!--Joe
+brought her--and I wanted to make a little picture of her, so that you
+could see what she looked like, and I cannot. Oh dear! I wish I could
+ever do anything!"
+
+"Ah, you are tired; drink this nice milk and you will be better."
+
+"I have had delicious things to eat, and I saved some for you, Lisa.
+Look!" and he showed her the little parcel of cakes Miss Schuyler had
+left. "And see the big piece of ice in my glass."
+
+"Some one has been kind to my boy."
+
+"Yes; and here is a note for you; and you must dress up, Lisa, when you
+go to see our new friend."
+
+Lisa looked down at her shabby garments; they were all she had; but she
+did not tell Phil that her only black silk had been sold long ago. She
+read the note, and her face brightened. There seemed a chance of better
+things for Phil.
+
+"I will go to-night, if you can spare me."
+
+"Not till you have rested, Lisa; and you must drink all that milk your
+own self. Did you ever hear of Miss Schuyler?"
+
+"I don't know," said Lisa, meditating; "the name is not strange to me.
+But there used to be so many visitors at your father's house, Phil dear,
+that I cannot be sure."
+
+"She is so nice and tender and kind--Have you had a tiresome day, Lisa,"
+added Phil, quickly, fearing Lisa might think herself neglected in his
+eager praise of the new friend.
+
+"Yes, rather; but I can go. So Joe brought her here?"
+
+"Yes; and see these flowers--yes, you must have some. Put them in your
+belt, Lisa."
+
+"Oh, flowers don't suit my old clothes, child; keep them yourself, dear.
+Well, it is a long lane that has no turning," she said, half to herself
+and half to Phil. "Perhaps God has sent us Miss Schuyler to do for you
+what I have not been able to; but I have tried--he knows I have."
+
+"And I know it too, dear Lisa," said Phil pulling her down to him, and
+throwing both arms around her. "No one could be kinder, Lisa; and I
+love this old garret room, just because it is your home and mine. Now
+get me my harp, and when you have put it in the window you can go; and I
+will try not to have any pain, so that you won't have to rub me
+to-night."
+
+"Dear child!" was all Lisa could say, as she did what he asked her to
+do, and then left him alone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A PROMISE OF BETTER TIMES
+
+
+When Phil was alone again, he waited impatiently for the long twilight
+to end in darkness, and the stars to come out. It seemed a very long
+time. Once in a while a faint murmur came from his harp, but it was a
+mere breathing of sound, and he turned restlessly in his chair. Then he
+closed his eyes and waited again, and his waiting was rewarded by a
+small voice in his ear whispering,
+
+"Here we are! here we are!"
+
+"Oh," said Phil, "I thought you never would come again."
+
+"Tut, tut, child, you must not be so doubtful," said the little voice
+again, and the starry coronet gleamed in his eyes. "I have brought you
+some sweet odors of wild-flowers, and spicy breath of pine and hemlock,
+for I thought you needed a tonic."
+
+Phil smelled something exquisite as she spoke, but all he said was,
+
+"What is a tonic?"
+
+"Something the doctors give when children are pale and thin, and do not
+have enough fresh air. I don't pretend to know what it means, but I
+often go to see sick children in hospitals, and so I hear about such
+things."
+
+"Hark! is that my wind harp?--why, it sounds like water dropping and
+gurgling over stones."
+
+"It is the song of a mountain brook that my friends are singing as they
+dance over your harp. Look!"
+
+Phil looked, and saw the flock of fairies like white butterflies
+swarming again over his harp, and heard the soft, sweet singing which
+kept time to their steps.
+
+"Oh, how beautiful! how beautiful!" said Phil.
+
+"When you hear a brook singing, you must remember us," said the fairy.
+
+"Indeed I will; but I am afraid I shall never hear one: only the hoarse
+cries of the street and the rumbling of wagons come to me here."
+
+"Ah, better times are coming; then you will not need us."
+
+Phil lay still in his chair, listening intently; the white figures
+glanced in shadowy indistinctness across the window, only the starry ray
+from each little brow lighting their dance. They swept up and down, and
+swayed like flowers in a breeze, and still the little clear notes of
+their song fell like dripping water in cool cascades. Now it flowed
+smoothly and softly, again it seemed to dash and foam among pebbly
+nooks.
+
+"Does it rest you? are you better?" asked the one little fairy who did
+all the talking.
+
+"Oh, so much!" said Phil.
+
+After a while the song stopped, and the fairies drew all together in a
+cluster, and were quite still.
+
+"What does that mean?" asked Phil.
+
+"They are disturbed; there is a storm coming. We shall have to return."
+
+"I am so sorry! I wanted to know more about you, and to see what you
+wear."
+
+"Mortals must not approach us too nearly. We may draw near to you. See,
+I will stand before you."
+
+"You seem to be all moonshine," said Phil.
+
+"Yes," said the fairy, laughing merrily; "these robes of ours are of
+mountain mist, spangled with star-dust so fine that it makes us only
+glisten. We have to wear the lightest sort of fabric, so that we are not
+hindered in our long flights."
+
+"Do you know flower fairies?"
+
+"Yes; but we are of a very different race. I suppose you thought we
+dressed in rose-leaves and rode on humble-bees, but we do not; we are
+more--now for a long word--more ethereal." And again the fairy laughed.
+
+"Ether means air," said Phil, quite proudly. "Do you know any fairy
+stories?" he asked.
+
+"Yes; shall I tell you one next time I come?"
+
+"Oh do, please. So you _will_ come again."
+
+"Yes, if I can. Now I must go. I thought I heard distant thunder. We
+must fly so fast--so fast! Good-bye--good-bye."
+
+There was a long rumbling of thunder far off in the distance, and a
+cooler air in the hot, close room. Phil lay and dreamed, wondering how
+long it took the wind fairies to reach their home. Then the sweet, spicy
+odors came to him again, and he lifted the languid flowers Miss Schuyler
+had brought him, and put them in his glass of water.
+
+He dreamed of fair green fields and meadows, of silent lakes bordered
+with rushes, out of which sprang wild-fowl slowly flapping their broad
+wings; of forests thick and dark, where on fallen trees the green moss
+had grown in velvet softness; of mountains lifting their purple tops
+into the fleecy clouds, and of long, shady country roads winding in and
+out and about the hills; of lanes bordered with blackberry-bushes and
+sumac, clematis and wild-rose; of dewy nooks full of ferns; of the songs
+of birds and the chirp of insects; and it seemed to him that he must put
+some of all this beauty into some shape of his own creation--picture or
+poem, song or speech; and then came a sudden sharp twinge of pain, and
+the brightness faded, and the room was dark, and he was hungry, and only
+poor little Phil, sick and sad and weary and poor.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+LISA VISITS MISS SCHUYLER
+
+
+"So you are Phil's good friend Lisa?" said Miss Rachel Schuyler, sitting
+in her cool white wrapper in the dusk of this warm May evening. "I want
+to hear more about Phil. The dear child has quite won my heart, he looks
+so like a friend of mine whom I have not seen for many years. How are
+you related to him, and who were his parents?"
+
+"I am not related to him at all, Miss Schuyler."
+
+"No?" in some surprise. "Why, then, have you the care and charge of
+him?"
+
+"I was brought up in his mother's family as seamstress, and went to live
+with her when she married Mr. Randolph, and--"
+
+"Who did you say? What Mr. Randolph?"
+
+"Mr. Peyton Randolph."
+
+Miss Rachel seemed much overcome, but she controlled herself, and
+hurriedly said, "Go on."
+
+"There was no intercourse between the families after the marriage, for
+Mrs. Randolph was poor, and they all had been opposed to her. I suppose
+you do not care to hear all the details--how they went abroad, and Mr.
+Randolph died there; and while they were absent their house was burned;
+and there was no one to take care of Phil but me, for Phil had been too
+sick to go with his father and mother; and Mrs. Randolph did not live
+long after her return. I nursed them both--Phil and his mother; and when
+she was gone I came on to the city, thinking I could do better here, but
+I have found it hard, very hard, with no friends. Still, I have pretty
+steady work now as shopwoman, though I cannot do all that I would like
+to do for Phil."
+
+Miss Schuyler was crying.
+
+"Lisa, you good woman, how glad I am I have found you! Phil's father was
+the dearest friend I ever had."
+
+"Phil's mother gave the child to me, Miss Schuyler."
+
+"Don't be alarmed. I do not wish to separate you. How can I ever thank
+you enough for telling me all this? And what a noble, generous creature
+you are, to be toiling and suffering for a child no way related to you,
+and who must have friends fully able to care for him if they would!"
+
+"I love him as if he were my own. Sometimes I have thought I ought to
+try and see if any of his relatives would help us, but I cannot bear to,
+and so we have just worried along as we could. But Phil needs a doctor
+and medicine, and more than I can give him."
+
+"He shall have all he needs, and you too," said Miss Schuyler, warmly.
+
+At this Lisa broke down, the kind words were so welcome. And the two
+women cried together; but not long, for Miss Schuyler rose and got Lisa
+some refreshing drink, and made her take off her bonnet and quiet
+herself, and then said:
+
+"Now we must plan a change for Phil, and see how soon it can be
+accomplished. And you must leave that tiresome shop, and I will give you
+plenty of work to do. See, here are some things I bought to-day that I
+shall have to wear this summer."
+
+She opened the packages--soft sheer lawn and delicate cambric that gave
+Lisa a thrill of pleasure just to touch once more, for she loved her
+work. "I shall be so glad to sew again, and I wish I had some of my
+work to show you."
+
+"Oh, I know you will do it nicely. I am going out of town in a few days,
+and I want you and Phil to go with me. Do you think you can?"
+
+"I am a little afraid," said Lisa, hesitating, "that we are not fit to;
+and yet--"
+
+"I will see to all that. Now I suppose you cannot leave Phil alone much
+longer--besides, there is a shower coming. To-morrow I will bring a
+doctor to visit the dear boy, and we will see what can be done"; and she
+put a roll of money in Lisa's hand, assuring her that she should be as
+independent as she pleased after a while, and repay her, but that now
+she needed help, and should have it, and that henceforth Phil was to be
+theirs in partnership.
+
+Lisa hurried away with a light heart. She had indeed toiled and
+suffered, striven early and late, for the child of her affections, and
+this timely assistance was a source of great joy.
+
+She was too happy to heed the dashing shower which was now falling.
+Herself she had never thought of, and her dear Phil now was to be
+helped, to be cheered, perhaps to be made strong and well, and able to
+do all that his poor weak hands had tried to do so ineffectually.
+
+She opened the door softly when she reached her room. A little shiver of
+sweet, sad sounds came from the wind harp. She lighted a candle, and
+looked into the pale face of the sleeping child as he lay in an attitude
+of weariness and exhaustion, with hands falling apart, and a feverish
+flush on his thin cheeks.
+
+"My poor Phil! I hope help has not come too late," she whispered, as she
+began her preparations for his more comfortable repose.
+
+The next day Miss Schuyler came, as she had promised, and brought a
+physician--a good, kind surgeon--who examined Phil, and pulled this
+joint and that joint, and touched him here and there, and found out
+where the pain was, and what caused it, and said nice, funny things to
+make him laugh, and told him he hoped to make him a strong boy yet. And
+then they whispered a little about him, and Joe was sent for, and a
+carriage came, and Phil was wrapped in a blanket and laid on pillows,
+and taken out for a drive alone with Miss Schuyler, who chatted with
+him, and got him more flowers; and when they came back there was a nice
+dinner on a tray, and ice-cream for his dessert, and Joe was to stay
+with him until Lisa came home; and before Lisa came there was a nice new
+trunk brought in, and several large parcels. And Phil thought he had
+never seen such a day of happiness. After his dinner and a nap, and
+while Joe Sat and played on his violin, Phil sketched and made a lovely
+little picture of flowers and fairies, in his own simple fashion, to
+give to Miss Schuyler. And then Lisa came home, and the parcels were
+opened; and there were nice new dresses for Lisa, and a pretty, thin
+shawl, and a new bonnet; and for Phil there was a comfortable flannel
+gown, and soft slippers, and fine handkerchiefs and stockings; and Phil
+found a little parcel too for Joe with a bright bandanna in it, and the
+old man was very happy.
+
+"It seems like Christmas," said Joe.
+
+Phil thought he had never seen quite such a Christmas, and said, "It
+seems more like Fairy-land, and I only hope it will not all fade away
+and come to an end, like a bubble bursting."
+
+"To me," said Lisa, "it is God's own goodness that has done it all, for
+it was He who gave Miss Schuyler her warm, kind heart."
+
+"And, Joe," said Phil, "we are to go to the country, and you are to go
+with us; is not that nice?"
+
+"Very nice, Phil. I'm glad Miss Rachel's found out your father was her
+friend."
+
+Then Joe took up his violin again, and played "Home, Sweet Home," and
+"Auld Lang Syne"; and Phil fancied the violin was a bird, and sang of
+its own free-will, and thinking this reminded him how soon he would hear
+the dear wild birds in the woods, and he wondered if the fairies would
+come to him there.
+
+Then Joe went home, and Lisa had errands to do, and again she put the
+wind harp in the window, and left Phil alone, keeping very still in
+expectation of another visit from his fairy friend.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+THE FAIRY'S STORY
+
+
+"I promised you a story," said the little voice, to his ear again.
+
+"Yes, I know you did; can you tell it now?"
+
+"To be sure I can, if I only have time. I did not bring any of my
+people to-night; they are helping some of the herb elves. It is a little
+late in the season, and some blossoms have been slow in opening, so that
+we have to urge them."
+
+"How?" asked Phil.
+
+"By coaxing and persuasion for some of them; others we have to blow upon
+quite forcibly."
+
+"I am ready for the story when you are," said Phil.
+
+"It is a wild affair, and one that all children might not care to hear;
+but to you, I fancy, nothing comes amiss."
+
+"No, I like almost everything," said Phil.
+
+"I shall begin just as my grandmother used to. Once upon a time, in the
+days of enchantment, there was a dreadful old ogre--"
+
+"Do not make him too dreadful, or I shall have bad dreams," interrupted
+Phil.
+
+The fairy laughed and flapped her little wings. "Now you must not be
+afraid; it will all come out right in the end. When I said the ogre was
+dreadful, I meant he was ugly-looking; we fairies like everything
+beautiful. Shall I go on?"
+
+"Oh yes, and please forgive me for stopping you."
+
+[Illustration: THE APPROACH OF THE SWANLIKE BOAT]
+
+"This ogre was ugly, with a shaggy head, a shaggy beard, and fierce
+eyes, and he lived all by himself in a great stone castle on the shore
+of a large lake. His principal pleasure consisted in tormenting
+everything and everybody he came near; but if he had any preference, it
+was for boys; to tease and ill-use them had the power of affording him
+great happiness. Lazy, loitering little fellows were in especial danger,
+for he would catch them quite easily by throwing over their head's the
+nets he used in fishing, drag them off to his castle, and keep them in a
+dungeon until there would be no chance of discovery, and the boys'
+parents would think them lost forever. Thus he would gain a very useful,
+active set of laborers for a stone wall he was building, for so afraid
+were they of his displeasure, and so fearful that they might be starved,
+since the only food they received was dried and salted fish, that these
+boys worked like bees in a hive, only it was a sullen, painful sort of
+working, for they never sang or shouted, whistled or talked, and they
+were thin and wretched, and more like machines than boys.
+
+"Now in this lake, on the shore of which was the ogre's castle, was an
+island, where lived a Princess whom the ogre had bewitched, but who had
+also regained her liberty, and near whom the ogre could never again
+come; even to land on her island or bathe in the water near would at
+once change him into a shark.
+
+"This Princess, passing the ogre's castle in her beautiful swan-like
+sailing-boat, had seen the unhappy little boys at work on the stone
+wall; her sympathies had been aroused at so sad a sight, and she
+determined to wait her chance, and do what she could to relieve them.
+The chance came one day when the ogre had gone on a fishing excursion,
+from which he would not return till night. He had given the boys their
+rations of salt fish, and had commanded them in the gruffest tones to be
+sure and do an unusual amount of work in his absence, or they should all
+have chains on again; for when they were first caught he always chained
+them for fear they might try to escape; but they so soon lost all spirit
+and all desire for freedom that their chains were removed to enable them
+to work more easily.
+
+"He had no sooner disappeared in his great clumsy craft, laden with
+seines and harpoons, and baskets and jugs, than a whispering began
+among the boys, a sad sort of sighing and crying, almost like the
+whispering of wind in the tree-tops, which changed again to looks and
+glances of surprise as a beautiful vessel with silken sails floated up
+to the wharf, and a lovely, gracious-looking lady clothed in white
+stepped from the boat, and came rapidly towards them.
+
+"'Boys,' said she, addressing them in a very soft, sweet voice, 'I have
+come to release you from this cruel bondage; will you trust me, and go
+with me?'
+
+"'Yes, yes,' came from more than a dozen little tongues.
+
+"'Come, then, at once. Drop your work, get into my boat, and we will be
+off. We have no time to lose, for your cruel master might possibly
+change his course and overtake us; then we should be in great danger.'
+
+"The boys crowded about her, and with a wild cry followed her to her
+little vessel, and almost tumbled into it in their delight. It was with
+some difficulty that she kept them balanced, and prevented their falling
+out; but once packed, there were so many of them that they could not
+move. The vessel seemed to start of itself; its sails swelled out and
+spread themselves like wings, and away they dashed over the rippling
+waves, which rose and fell and hurried them on their way. The ogre's
+castle was quickly left far behind, and the tired boys breathed more
+freely as it disappeared entirely from their view. In another minute
+they fell fast asleep, and did not waken till the motion of the boat
+ceased, and they found themselves gliding into a quiet harbor, fringed
+on each side with lovely shrubs that dipped their beautiful flowers into
+the calm water. Then the lady bade them follow her as she stepped from
+the boat on to the soft grass, and led them past fruits and flowers, and
+winding walks and fountains, up to the dazzling crystal palace in which
+she lived. Here the boys were halted while she made them this little
+speech: 'Boys, this is my home, these are my gardens; for a while you
+will have to remain here. We may have trouble with the ogre, but I want
+you to have no trouble among yourselves. Kindness, good-humor, pleasant
+looks and words, must prevail. There must be no envy, no selfishness, no
+desire to get the better of each other in any way. I demand obedience.
+If I receive it, all will be well; if I do not, you will have to suffer
+the consequence. Now I have said all that I need. These flowers, these
+fruits, are yours to enjoy in moderation.'
+
+"As she ceased speaking she clapped her hands, and a troop of servants
+appeared. They led the boys to marble baths, where waters gushed and
+flowed in liquid beauty, and groves of orange-trees made a dense thicket
+about them. Here each boy was made sweet and clean, and provided with a
+suit of white clothes. When they emerged from the baths, they saw before
+them on the lawn tables filled with tempting food--roasted meats,
+broiled birds, pitchers of milk and cream, biscuits and jellies and
+ices.
+
+"The utmost order prevailed. Starved as the poor boys were, the grace
+and beauty of their surroundings made them gentle and patient. At each
+plate was a tiny nose-gay held in the beak of a crystal bird, the body
+of which was a finger-bowl. Every plate was of exquisite workmanship.
+Some had birds of gay plumage; some had fierce tigers' heads or
+shaggy-maned lions; others bore designs of tools or curious instruments;
+but that which most delighted the boys was a dish of crystal, an exact
+imitation of the _Swan_--the _Fairy Swan_--in which they had sailed
+to this lovely island. It was laden with choice fruits. While the
+boys feasted as they had never before, strains of sweet music became
+audible; they could also hear the soft splash of the waves on the shore,
+or the dripping of fountains, as the waters sparkled and fell in their
+marble basins.
+
+"After they had feasted, the boys wandered off in most delightful
+idleness to all parts of the island. They climbed the trees, which bore
+blossoms, fruits, and nuts, all at the same time; they fished in the
+little coves; they waded in the shallow basins; and nothing would have
+marred their happiness had not one tall boy, with unnaturally strong and
+keen vision, declared that he saw the ogre's sail coming in the
+direction of the island.
+
+"This was terrible, and had the effect of bringing all the boys together
+from their various amusements, just as chickens run from a hovering
+hawk. Together they crowded for a moment in mute dismay, unable to
+speak, to even hide, waiting the approach of their cruel foe.
+
+"Nearer came the sail, and now they could all discern it. Its great
+clumsy shape, its heavy lumbering action, were not to be mistaken.
+
+"What should they do?
+
+"'Run for the Princess,' said one.
+
+"'Too cowardly, that,' said another; and indeed their good, abundant
+meal had begun to put strange courage in their little hearts.
+
+"'Let's meet him, and fight him,' said one.
+
+"'Let's upset his boat,' said another.
+
+"'How?'
+
+"'By pelting him with stones when he comes near enough.'
+
+"'Good!' cried they all; and they began gathering all the bits of rock
+and pebbles they could find.
+
+"Now came a roar of ogreish rage from the boat as it neared them.
+
+"'I'll have ye again!' screamed the ogre.
+
+"Then began the attack--a volley of small stones, nuts, fruits, anything
+they had in their pockets.
+
+"One of the ogre's eyes was closed, so certain had been the aim of the
+tall boy who acted as leader.
+
+"But the boat came nearer, and they were very much afraid the ogre
+would leap from it, when one of the boys whispered, 'I'll go out to
+tempt him. Once get him in the water, and he's a goner. He'll be
+bewitched.'
+
+"So he off with his jacket, and out he waded, while the others looked on
+in breathless admiration.
+
+"The ogre looked with his one eye in eager derision; then forgetting his
+danger, and regarding the boy much as he might do an unwary fish that he
+would gobble up, he sprang from his boat into the shallow water,
+preparing not only to snatch the one boy, but to seize them all in a
+great seine he dragged after him, when suddenly the waves from the
+centre of the lake began hissing and seething, a tremendous swell set in
+towards the shore, driving the brave little fellow who had gone out to
+tempt the enemy completely off his legs, and obliging him to swim to the
+land, which he had no sooner reached than a great shout from all the
+boys made him look back, when, lo and behold! there was no ogre, only a
+great shark, with open jaws and a shining row of teeth, floundering
+about, and dashing himself in angry transports against the sides of the
+ogre boat, which he vainly attempted to board. And now could be seen
+swarms of little fish attacking the great one, darting hither and
+thither, now at his head, now at his tail, but keeping well away from
+his open jaws. And the waves began to be colored with the shark's blood.
+At last, wearied and wounded, with an angry snap of his jaws he dived
+down, and was seen no more.
+
+"Then the boys gave another loud huzza, when, like a broad flash of
+sunshine, the lovely Princess came among them.
+
+"'Boys,' said she, 'you have proved yourselves brave youngsters. The
+ogre can never again trouble you. He will be a shark for three thousand
+years, and he will not care to stay in these waters, with so many
+enemies about him. Now, when you have regained your good looks and
+strength, I will take you all home. Here is the key to my sweetmeat
+closet. Run off, now, and have a good time.'
+
+"The sweetmeat closet was a large enclosure where grew sugar-almond
+trees, candied pears, candied plums, and where even the bark and twigs
+of trees and bushes were of chocolate. In the centre was a pond of
+quivering jelly. Mounds and pyramids of jumbles and iced cakes
+abounded. They were too tempting to be long looked at without tasting,
+and the boys helped themselves gladly.
+
+"A long, sweet strain from a bugle called them away from this delightful
+spot, and on a broad, smooth field they found bats and balls, tenpins
+and velocipedes--in short, everything a boy could want to play with.
+
+"After this they supped in simple fashion, each boy with only a great
+bowl of bread and milk. Then to more music they were marched to their
+beds--downy white nests, in a great room arched with glass, through
+which they could see the moon and stars shining, and where the dawn
+could awaken them with its early light.
+
+"Such was their life for two of the most happy weeks of their lives, and
+never did boys thrive better. They grew fat and rosy; they sang, they
+danced, they played. Every time the Princess came among them they
+shouted with glee, and nearly cracked their young throats in doing her
+honor. But all fine things come to an end some time. Once more they were
+packed in the _Fairy Swan_, and away they sailed for the land of reality
+and for home. The Princess gave them each a beautiful portrait of
+herself, of the island, and of the _Swan_. And each boy promised that
+whenever he had a chance to perform a kind action he would do it in
+remembrance of the gentle courtesy of the Princess. And so ends my fairy
+story. Good-night, Phil."
+
+"Good-night. Oh, how nice it was! I thank you so much!" and sleepy Phil
+turned to see the little white butterfly wings skimming out of the
+window, while a long, sweet sigh came from his wind harp, sounding like,
+"Good-night--good-night," again.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+FAREWELL TO THE CITY
+
+
+A day or two later, Phil, wrapped in shawls, was carried by Joe to a
+carriage, and the carriage rolled away to a wharf where puffed numerous
+steamboats; and here he was taken on board one of the river-steamers,
+and safely placed in the midst of a heap of pillows on deck, where he
+could see all the busy life about him--see the newspaper boys and the
+orange women, and the hurrying hacks and the great teams, and all the
+stir and tumult of the city's busiest hours. Miss Schuyler, in her cool
+gray suit, was on one side of him, and Lisa, looking tranquil and
+thoroughly glad and grateful, on the other, and Joe, just the happiest
+darkey in the world, sat at his feet, ready to take charge of all and
+everything.
+
+They sailed and they sailed, away from the city and its many roofs, from
+the factory chimneys and the steeples, from the cloud of smoke which
+hung between the sky and house-tops, until they came to the hills and
+dales of pasture-lands and villages. Then they landed, and were whirled
+away in the cars, and Phil enjoyed it all, even the fatigue which made
+him sleep; and Joe carried him about as if he were a baby.
+
+It was quite dark when, after a drive over a rather rough road, they
+reached the lake-side cottage which was Miss Schuyler's summer home, and
+Phil was glad to be put in bed, for the old pain had begun again.
+
+When he opened his eyes the next morning, it was with a strange feeling
+of wonder at his new surroundings. Birds were twittering out-of-doors,
+and there was a soft lapping of water on the shore. The green boughs of
+a cherry tree almost brushed against the window-panes. He was no longer
+in his old garret room, but in a pretty apartment, with bunches of
+rosebuds on the walls, and scent-bottles on the toilet-table, and muslin
+curtains, and a bright carpet, and pretty book-shelves, and brackets,
+and lovely child-faces in the engravings; and on a broad table was a
+little easel, and a paint-box, and drawing-paper; and here too was his
+old box with the violin strings.
+
+"Oh," said Phil, softly, "I wonder if heaven is any better than this!"
+
+He had closed his eyes as he said it, and went over his usual morning
+prayer of thankfulness; and when he opened his eyes, there was Lisa with
+his breakfast-tray--poached eggs and toast, and a goblet of milk.
+
+"Lisa, Lisa, is not this too nice for anything?" asked Phil.
+
+"Yes, indeed, dear, it is nice. Miss Schuyler says you must hurry and
+get strong, so that you can make the acquaintance of the hens that laid
+these eggs for you, and the cow whose milk is to do you so much good."
+
+"What is the cow's name, Lisa?"
+
+"I don't know," said Lisa.
+
+"It is Daisy," said Miss Schuyler, coming in to say good-morning.
+"She's a lovely little Alderney, and her milk is like cream. Oh, you
+will soon be strong enough to row my boat for me."
+
+"A boat! Have you a boat?"
+
+"Yes, and you are going out on the lake in her this very morning."
+
+"It is just too much happiness, Miss Schuyler."
+
+"Well, we will not overpower you. For a day or two you must rest, and do
+nothing but breathe the sweet air. I have to be busy getting things in
+order and looking after my garden. Lisa will take her work on the
+piazza, and you can lie in one of the easy-chairs. Joe is to wait on
+you, and do a little weeding, and keep the paths in order, and bail out
+the boat; and the old man seems to be very much at home already. So that
+is the order of the day. Now good-bye, and don't do too much thinking."
+
+"One moment, Miss Schuyler; do you believe in fairies?"
+
+"Just a little," said Miss Schuyler, with a quizzical smile.
+
+"Well, I believe in them," said Phil, "and I think you are one of the
+best of them."
+
+"Oh no, I am very human, dear Phil, as you will find out. And now I must
+go look after my strawberry-beds. Good-bye."
+
+"Good-bye," said Phil, waving her a kiss. "Only think, Lisa, we will
+actually see strawberries growing! It is quite fairy-land for me."
+
+After that he was carried down to the easy-chair on the piazza, where he
+could see the lawn sloping down to the lake, and watch the birds
+lighting on the rim of a vase full of daisies and running vines. He
+could see that the cottage was low and broad, and painted in two shades
+of brown; and that there were arbors covered with grape-vines on one
+side, and on the other he knew there were flower-beds and fruit-trees,
+for every once in a while Miss Rachel was to be seen emerging from there
+in a broad straw hat and with buck-skin gloves, trailing long bits of
+string or boughs of green stuff, with scissors and trowel and
+watering-can.
+
+Lisa had her work-basket, and with deft fingers and a little undertone
+of psalmody was fashioning a pretty summer garment. Then Miss Rachel
+came and tossed a basketful of early roses and syringa down beside Phil,
+and put a little table beside him, with some slender glass vases and a
+pitcher of water, and asked him to arrange the flowers for her. This he
+was glad to do, and made the bunches up as prettily as his nice taste
+suggested. But he was really wearied with great happiness. It was all so
+new, so charming, every sense was so satisfied, that at last he closed
+his eyes and slept.
+
+It seemed to him only a little while, but when he opened his eyes again
+Lisa was beside him with his dinner; and after dinner he slept again,
+and when he awakened the lawn was in shadow, and the sun low in the sky,
+and the birds were twittering and seeking their nests, and Miss Rachel
+was telling Joe to put cushions in the boat, the _Flyaway_; and
+presently Phil found himself floating gently on the lovely water of the
+lake, and the cottage and lawn and arbors were looking like a pretty bit
+of landscape he had seen in books.
+
+He dipped his fingers in the clear water, and looked down at the pebbly
+bottom, and listened to the even dip of the oars, as old Joe rowed
+farther out from shore.
+
+"It must be fairy-land," thought Phil, but he said nothing; he was too
+happy to talk. And so the day ended--the first day in the country.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+THE NEW COMPANION
+
+
+Miss Schuyler was a very active, industrious lady, and her time was
+fully occupied. She had her house and grounds to attend to, her business
+affairs, her domestic duties, and her poor people--for paradise or
+fairy-land, whichever Phil chose to call his present abode, was not
+without its poor--and so, during the day, Lisa was mostly with Phil; but
+he and Miss Rachel had always a pleasant chat after breakfast; and in
+the evening many a long talk made known to Miss Rachel more of Phil's
+character than he had any idea of; and the more she knew of the boy, the
+warmer her heart became towards him, and the more thankful she was that
+she had been able to do for him just what was wanted, and just at the
+right time.
+
+Already there was a little color in his pale cheeks, and an eagerness
+for his meals. He could endure more fatigue, and he suffered less pain.
+Indeed, Dr. Smith, who lived half a mile off, had promised to send his
+son, a lad of twelve, down to see Phil in his stead. "For," said he,
+"Graham does not know one bone from another, and will soon help Phil to
+forget all about his, or whether they ache or not."
+
+And so Graham Smith, a ruddy-cheeked fellow, full of life and spirit,
+came to see Phil.
+
+It was a warm June day when they first saw each other.
+
+Phil was sketching, and Lisa was sitting beside him sewing. Joe was
+Phil's model, standing patiently by the hour to be made into studies of
+heads, arms, trunk, or the whole man.
+
+Suddenly there was a loud bark of welcome from Nep, the Newfoundland
+dog--who greeted tramps with growls--and Graham Smith came up the garden
+path, followed by Nep, leaping frantically upon and about him.
+
+He nodded in a brusque way to Lisa and Phil, and without a word bent
+down over the sketch, gave a long, low whistle, and said, "Isn't that
+bully?"
+
+"If I knew what bully meant, I could answer you, perhaps," replied
+Phil, gazing up with admiration at the brown and red cheeks, the clear
+blue eyes, and the tough, hardy-looking frame of his new acquaintance.
+
+"I'm not sure I can tell you; only you can beat all the boys I know at
+this sort of work," said Graham. "Where did you learn how to do it?"
+
+"Oh, I have not learned yet; I am only just beginning."
+
+"Haven't you had any lessons?"
+
+"No; it comes naturally to me to draw. I wish I could do it better,
+that's all," said Phil, with a little sigh.
+
+"I wouldn't want to do any better than that," said Graham.
+
+"Oh yes, you would," replied Phil, very much pleased, however, with such
+heartfelt admiration of his drawing.
+
+Just then Nep made another leap upon Graham, and the two, after a
+friendly tussle, had a race down to the lake, where Graham tossed a
+stick, and sent the dog after it.
+
+"That is something _I_ cannot do," said Phil, as the boy came up to him
+again; "and yet you do it as easily as I draw."
+
+"What--shy that stick off on the water? Then you don't play ball?"
+
+"I don't even walk," said Phil.
+
+Graham seemed both astonished and sorry, so he turned it off with, "But
+you are going to, you know, when you get well--and you can do more than
+any of us now. Let's go out on the water. May we?" he asked, turning to
+Lisa.
+
+"Oh yes," said Lisa; and Joe was glad to get the _Flyaway_ ready for a
+start.
+
+Phil was placed in the stern, where Graham promised to show him how to
+steer. Phil was an apt scholar, and delighted to be of use. Joe
+addressed Graham as "Captain," and complimented him on the fine
+feathering of his oar. The lad was a good oarsman, and made the boat
+respond to her name.
+
+"Where shall we go, mate?" asked Graham of Phil.
+
+"The Captain must give orders," was Phil's reply.
+
+"Have you been down to Point of Rocks?" asked Graham, directing Phil's
+eyes to a distant promontory.
+
+"No, I have not been so far yet."
+
+"There are lots of water-lilies there."
+
+"Oh, do go there, then! I want some to copy."
+
+"All right. Pull on your starboard oar, Joe; there, that will do. Now we
+will soon reach it."
+
+It was a lovely little nook where grew the lilies, after they had turned
+around the jutting stones which gave a name to the spot, and Phil soon
+had his hands full of fragrant buds. The water was so clear that he
+could see their long green stems away down to the black mud from which
+they sprang. They moored the boat, and Graham got out to ramble,
+returning with ferns and mosses and wild-flowers for Phil.
+
+"Now," said he, "if you don't mind, I'm going to have a swim just around
+the rocks here where the water is deeper and not so full of weeds. I
+wish you could come."
+
+"So do I," said Phil, watching with admiration every movement of his
+lively companion. Besides admiration, too, there was a twinge of envy,
+which he really did not know to be that hateful fault; but it passed in
+a moment, and he laughed loudly to see Graham's antics in the water.
+
+The bath over, they turned homeward. Miss Rachel was entertaining guests
+in the parlor. Lisa had gone off for a walk. Graham had to go home, but
+promised frequent visits; and as Phil was tired, Joe carried him up and
+laid him on his bed, putting his mosses on the table, and the
+water-lilies in an oblong vase which was usually filled with fragrant
+flowers. The wind harp was there, too, and as Phil, with closed eyes,
+was resting in the half-twilight made by shut blinds, there came from it
+a little murmur, which grew into a long, sad monotone. He dared not
+move, and would not speak, but between his eyelids, partly raised, he
+thought he saw the familiar little winged creature who had comforted and
+entertained him in his wretched city home.
+
+"How little people know what they are doing when they pull up ferns and
+mosses in the woods!" said the soft voice. "I was sleeping soundly on
+the nicest bed imaginable, having travelled far for just a whiff of
+water-lily odor that I thought might refresh a poor little hospital
+patient tossing with fever in the city, when with a violent wrench I
+found myself borne off from my sheltered and dusky resting-place, and
+tossed into a boat in the blinding glare of the sun. Fortunately, I had
+wrapped myself in some broad grape-vine leaves, and was mistaken for a
+moth cocoon; else, dear Phil, I had not been here."
+
+"I am so glad, so very glad, to see you again!" murmured Phil, softly.
+
+"And I am so glad you are in the country! You could not have lived long
+in the city. What are you doing now?"
+
+"Getting well, they tell me."
+
+"Do you ever think of the ones who cannot do that?"
+
+"No, I do not," said Phil, in some surprise.
+
+"Ah, there are so many. I see them often--little creatures who are
+friendless and helpless. You should not forget them."
+
+"It is not that I forget, I do not think of them at all. I suppose I
+would if I saw them."
+
+"Well, you must think of them, and do something for them. Oh yes, I know
+you do not believe you can, but the way will come if you try. All that I
+do is to whisper soft songs in their ears, or give them a little waft of
+summer freshness, but it sometimes stops their painful tossing, and
+brings sleep to their tired eyes."
+
+"I will think; I will try," said Phil.
+
+"That is right," replied the fairy. "Now I will call some of my friends,
+the flower fairies, hidden in these water-lilies, and you shall see them
+dance." She clapped her hands softly together, and out of each lily
+crept a tiny shape of radiant whiteness and lily-like grace, so pure, so
+exquisite, that they did indeed seem to be the very essence and spirit
+of the flower. And now began another of those fantastic movements which
+Phil had before witnessed. Now in wreaths, now apart, and again in
+couples, they swayed about in an ecstasy of mirth, and the wind harp
+gave out strains of wild and melodious sound. They nodded to each other
+in their glee, and Phil could hardly tell whether they really were
+fairies or flowers, for they looked just as the flowers might when blown
+about in a breeze. As he gazed, his eyelids began to droop. He was very
+tired. The music grew fainter and fainter. He seemed to be again in the
+boat, listening to the water lapping its sides, and Graham seemed to be
+with him, reaching out for lilies; and then all faded, and Phil was fast
+asleep.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+A VISIT FROM THE YOUNG DOCTOR
+
+
+"Now, Phil," said Miss Rachel, "I am not going to be so busy for a
+while, and though you cannot study yet, for the doctors say you must
+not, I shall read aloud to you a little every day. Graham has promised
+to come often to visit you, and with our boating and driving, and
+pleasant friends coming to stay with us, I think we shall have rather a
+nice summer. What do you think?"
+
+Phil's face lighted up with a grateful smile, which grew into rather a
+sober expression.
+
+"I think it is all delightful; but--"
+
+"But what, my dear; are you not contented?"
+
+"Oh yes, more than that: I am as happy as I can be; but--"
+
+"Another but."
+
+"Miss Rachel, what becomes of all the poor sick children in the city who
+have no such friend as you are to me?"
+
+"They suffer sadly, dear Phil."
+
+"Then don't you think I ought to remember them sometimes?"
+
+"Yes, in your prayers."
+
+"Is there no other way?"
+
+"I am not sure that there is for a child like you. Perhaps there may be,
+and we will think about it; but you must not let such a thought oppress
+you; it is too much for a sick child to consider. Be happy; try to get
+well; do all you can to make everybody about you glad that you are here,
+by pleasant looks and good-nature. There, that is a little sermon which
+you hardly need, dear, for you are blessed with a sweet and patient
+temper, and are far less troublesome than many a well child."
+
+"I suppose I do not deserve any praise if I was made so," said Phil,
+laughing.
+
+"No, not a bit; the poor cross little things who fret and tease and
+worry are the ones who should be praised when they make an effort not to
+be disagreeable. But I am not going to preach any more. I am going
+down-stairs to make some sponge-cake for the picnic you and Lisa and I
+are going to have to-morrow."
+
+"A picnic! a real one in the woods?"
+
+"Yes, and here comes Graham with a basket. I wonder what is in it.
+Good-bye. I will send him up to you."
+
+Graham came up in a few moments with the basket on his arm.
+
+"Guess what I have here, Phil."
+
+"How can I?"
+
+"Oh yes, you can--just guess."
+
+"Something to eat?"
+
+"No, little piggy; or rather yes, if you choose."
+
+"Well, chickens or eggs?"
+
+"No, neither."
+
+"Fruit?"
+
+"Guess again."
+
+"Medicine for some of your father's sick people?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Flowers? Oh no, one cannot eat flowers if they choose. I give it up."
+
+"Well, then, watch," and lifting the cover slowly, three cunning white
+rabbits poked their little twitching noses over the edge of the basket.
+
+Phil gazed at them delightedly. "And you call those little darlings
+something to eat, do you?"
+
+"If you choose, yes."
+
+"As if any one could choose to be such a cannibal! What precious little
+beauties they are! Oh, how pretty they look!"
+
+"They are for you."
+
+"Really! Oh, thank you, Graham. But you must ask Miss Schuyler."
+
+"I did, and I am to build them a hutch. Until I do, there is an empty
+box in the barn where they can stay."
+
+"And you can build--handle tools like a carpenter? How nice that must
+be!"
+
+"Oh, that's nothing; all boys can do that."
+
+Graham forgot that Phil was one boy who could not, but seeing the shade
+come over his friend's face made him repent his hasty speech.
+
+"I beg your pardon," he said, in a low voice.
+
+"No, you need not, Graham. I must get used to being different from other
+boys. Well, these are just the loveliest little things I ever saw. What
+do they live on?"
+
+"Almost any green thing; they are very fond of lettuce. When you are
+able you must come and see my lop-ears."
+
+"Have you many rabbits?"
+
+"Yes, quite a number. Let me see: there's Neb (he's an old black
+fellow--Nebuchadnezzar), and Miss Snowflake, Aunt Chloe (after the one
+in _Uncle Tom's Cabin_), Fanny Elssler (because she jumps about so), and
+Mr. Prim--- he is the stillest old codger you ever saw."
+
+"What other pets have you?"
+
+"I've lots of chickens, three dogs, two cats, a squirrel, and a parrot."
+
+"A large family."
+
+"Yes, almost too large; they will have to be given up soon."
+
+"How soon?"
+
+"In the fall, I suppose; I am going to boarding-school."
+
+"What fun!"
+
+"You would be amused with Polly. She is a gay old thing--laughs, sings,
+and dances."
+
+"Oh, Graham, can she do all that?"
+
+"Indeed she can; sometimes she sings like a nurse putting a child to
+sleep, in a sort of humming hush-a-by-baby way; then she tries
+dance-music, and hops first on one foot, then on the other--this way,"
+and Graham began mimicking the parrot, and Phil laughed till the tears
+came.
+
+"She screams out 'Fire!' like an old fury, but she is as serene as a
+May day when she gets her cup of coffee."
+
+"Is that your parrot, Graham?" asked Miss Schuyler.
+
+"Yes, ma'am, that's our green-and-golden Polly."
+
+"We will have to pay it a visit. Can you join our picnic to-morrow? it
+is Phil's first one."
+
+"Really! why, he has a good deal to learn of our country ways."
+
+"Yes, and I have a little plan to propose in which you may help us.
+Promise you will come."
+
+"Oh, I am always ready, thank you, Miss Schuyler. Shall we go by boat?"
+
+"To be sure, to Eagle Island."
+
+"Then we will go early, I suppose, as it is quite a long pull. What must
+I bring, Miss Schuyler?"
+
+"Only your arms, Graham, for alone Joe will perhaps find the rowing a
+little too much in the warm sun. I am Commissary-General for the party.
+That means, Phil, that I furnish the provisions: a Commissary-General
+has to see that his troops are well fed."
+
+"There is no danger about that, I am sure," said Graham, gallantly, "if
+Miss Schuyler leads us."
+
+"Well, then, to-morrow at nine, before the sun is too high--earlier
+would not do for Phil. And now be off with yourself: and your bunnies,
+Graham, leave them in the barn; and tell your good, kind father that you
+are an excellent substitute for himself, that Phil is improving even
+faster with your visits than he did with his."
+
+"Good-bye, then, Phil; good-bye, Miss Schuyler. To-morrow at nine."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+THE PICNIC
+
+
+It was a perfect morning. Blue sky, with pure little snow-drop clouds,
+as if the angels had dropped them from their baskets as they tended the
+flowers in the heavenly gardens. The lake sparkled and glistened in the
+sunshine, and every wave seemed to leap joyously as it broke in soft
+foam on the shore. In one end of the _Flyaway_ sat Phil, on a pile of
+shawls; in the other were stowed a large basket, a pail of ice, and a
+pail of milk, and in between were Miss Rachel, Lisa, Joe, and Graham.
+Phil had twisted up a little nosegay for each, and had pinned a broad
+wreath of grape-leaves around Joe's straw hat, making the old fellow
+laugh at his nonsense. They were just pushing off, when a sudden
+rattling of chain and some impatient barks from Nep showed that he began
+to feel neglected.
+
+"I thought we could get away unnoticed," said Miss Rachel, "but I find
+myself mistaken."
+
+The boys pleaded for Nep. "Ah, let him come, please let him come."
+
+Nep's leaps becoming frantic, Miss Rachel yielded, and Graham soon had
+him loosened. He jumped at once into the boat, and crept under Phil's
+feet, making a nice warm mat.
+
+"Poor Nep," said Phil, patting him, "he felt neglected"; and the big
+tail wagged thankful thumps against the boat.
+
+The morning air was sweet with all manner of herbage yet fresh from the
+morning dew. The trees were in their most brilliant green, and every
+leaf seemed newly washed.
+
+Graham began a boating song, and Miss Schuyler joined in the chorus. Old
+Joe chuckled and grinned; even quiet Lisa hummed a little as the song
+rose louder; and Phil, dipping his hands in the clear water, imagined
+that the fishes were frisking a waltz in their honor. They glided past
+Point of Rocks, past huge beds of water-lilies, past lovely little coves
+and inlets, and spots where Graham said there was excellent fishing;
+finally Eagle Island became more distinct, and its pine-trees began to
+look imposing.
+
+"Here we are!" said Graham at last, bringing the _Flyaway_ up nicely on
+a pebbly beach, in good boating style.
+
+Graham and Joe made a chair with their hands and arms, and so carried
+Phil very comfortably to the place under the trees which Miss Rachel had
+chosen for their encampment.
+
+"Now," said Miss Rachel, as she brought out Phil's portfolio, a book,
+her own embroidery, and Lisa's sewing, "I propose that Graham, being a
+more active member of society than we are, go off with Joe and catch
+some fish for our dinner."
+
+"Just the thing!" said Graham; "but I did not bring a line."
+
+"Joe has everything necessary--bait and all," said Miss Schuyler.
+
+"Now," said Miss Rachel, when the fishermen had gone, seeing Phil's
+longing look, and knowing well how much he would have liked to go with
+them, "we must go to work too, so that we may enjoy our play all the
+more afterwards. I could not let you go with Graham, my dear Phil; it
+would have fatigued you too much; but I want you to try and draw me that
+drooping bush on the edge of the water, and while you draw I will read
+aloud for a while."
+
+Miss Schuyler read, explained, talked to Phil about his drawing, and
+gave him the names of the trees about him.
+
+The time flew fast, and it seemed a very little while when Miss Schuyler
+said to Lisa, "I think I hear oars; we had better be getting our feast
+ready."
+
+They brought out the basket and pails, spread a nice red dessert cloth
+down on a smooth patch of grass, laid broad green leaves down for the
+rolls and biscuits; golden balls of butter were in a silver dish of
+their own, and so were the berries in a willow basket, around which they
+put a few late wild-flowers.
+
+"Now we want a good flat stone for our fireplace, and--Ah! here come
+our fishermen just in time."
+
+Graham and Joe now appeared with a few perch, but plenty of catfish.
+They went to work with zeal, and soon had enough brush for the fire,
+which they built at a good distance. And while Graham fed it, Joe
+skinned his catfish, salted the perch, and laid them on the stone.
+
+Then they all sat around their grassy table, and Joe served them in fine
+style, bringing them their fish smoking hot on white napkins.
+
+How merry they were over the good things, and how eager Graham was to
+cook fish for Joe, and serve the old fellow as nicely as he had done all
+of them! And Phil cut the very largest slice of cake for Joe.
+
+"It is just the jolliest picnic I ever was at," said Graham, helping to
+wash and clear away, and re-stow spoons and forks.
+
+"Of course it is," said Phil. "There never can be another quite so nice:
+it is my first one, you know."
+
+"Yes; just think of it, and it's my fiftieth, I suppose; but then you
+must not think all picnics like this. It is something really remarkable
+to have everything go off so smoothly. Why, sometimes all the crockery
+gets smashed, or the fire won't burn, or if it does, you get the smoke
+in your eyes, or your potatoes get burned, and your lemonade gets in
+your milk, or somebody puts your ice in the sun, and, to crown it all,
+down comes a shower."
+
+"Dear, dear, what a chapter of accidents, Graham!"
+
+"Are you listening, Miss Rachel?" said Graham, with a quizzical look. "I
+was only letting Phil know how much better you manage than most people."
+
+"Well, when you and Phil are ready, I want to tell you about something
+else I should like to manage. Come, put away all the books and work, and
+listen to my preaching."
+
+Miss Rachel sat on a fallen tree, leaning against some young birches.
+"Phil was asking me, yesterday," said she, "what becomes of all the poor
+sick children in the city, and he seemed to think he ought in some way
+to help them; so I promised to think about what he had been
+considering, and a little plan came into my head in which I thought you
+could help us, Graham."
+
+Graham looked up with a pleased face, and nodded.
+
+"It is just this. In the city hospitals are many sick children who have
+to stay in bed almost all the time. Now Phil and I want to do the little
+that we can for them, and it seems to me it would be nice to send fresh
+flowers and fruit--all that we can spare from our gardens--once or twice
+a week to some of these sick city children. What do you think, boys?"
+
+"It would be lovely, Miss Schuyler," said Phil, "only I do not see how
+_we_ could help; it would all come from you."
+
+"Not all, dear child. I mean to give you both a share of the work--you
+in your way, and Graham in his. Are you interested? Shall I go on and
+tell you?"
+
+"Yes, indeed," both exclaimed.
+
+"I propose that we set aside a certain part of our flower-garden and our
+fruit-trees, you and I, Graham (for I know you have a garden of your
+own), which we will call our 'hospital fruits and flowers,' and Phil is
+to assist in making up boquets, hulling berries, and packing to send
+away; besides that, he is to make some little pictures, just little bits
+of sketches of anything that he fancies--a spray of buds, a single
+pansy, Joe's old hat and good-natured face beneath, a fish, or a bit of
+vine-covered fence--and we will sell them for him, and the money shall
+help pay the express charges upon our gifts to the sick children, so
+that Phil will really be doing more than any of us. How do you like my
+plan?"
+
+The boys were pleased, and had begun to say so, when a shout came from
+the other part of the island from Joe, and Nep set up a violent barking.
+
+"Hi! look up dar, Miss Schuyler!" called out Joe.
+
+"Quick, Phil!" said Graham; "look! there's an eagle. How fortunate we
+are! There he goes, sailing away in all his glory"; and sure enough, the
+great bird floated farther and farther up in the blue sky.
+
+Still Nep kept on barking, and Graham ran down to see what was the
+matter. He came back with something dangling from his hand, Joe and Nep
+following.
+
+[Illustration: "LOOK! THERE'S AN EAGLE"]
+
+"A black snake--oh, what a dreadful creature!" exclaimed Lisa.
+
+"Yes, indeed, ma'am," said Joe; "and if Nep hadn't barked so, the
+drefful cretur would have bitten me sure. That dog knows a heap; you'd
+better allus take him with you in the woods, Miss Rachel. I was lyin'
+off sound asleep, with this critter close beside me, when Nep come up,
+and barked just as plain as speakin'. 'Take care,' says he, 'ole Joe,
+you're in danger,' an' with that I woke in a hurry, an' jist then I saw
+that big eagle come soarin' overhead, and then Marsa Graham come and
+give that snake his death-blow."
+
+"How did you do it, Graham?" asked Phil, excitedly.
+
+"Oh, I pounded him on the head with a stone as he was making off. He is
+a pretty big fellow, and he must have swum from the main-land, Miss
+Schuyler."
+
+"Yes, I never saw a snake on this island before."
+
+"Come here, Nep," said Phil, "dear old fellow; good dog for taking care
+of Joe. Your head shall be my first picture for our sick children."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+A PAIR OF CRUTCHES
+
+
+Aunt Rachel's plan was entered into most heartily by both boys, and
+Graham became so much interested as to act as express agent on his own
+account, going to the city with what he called his first load of berries
+and flowers; but on his return was so silent and uncommunicative that
+Phil asked him if anything had gone wrong.
+
+"Don't ask me to tell you what I saw," said he, in reply; "it was more
+than I could stand." Then, as if sorry for his short answer, he added,
+"It was the most pitiful thing in the world--such a lot of little pale
+faces all together! and when I came to give them their share, as the
+lady in charge told me to do, I cried right out like any baby--there,
+now! But you have no idea how they brightened up, and how glad they
+looked when they took the posies. I don't want to go again, though,
+unless Miss Rachel asks me to. I shall see those poor wizened little
+things as long as I live. I am going to sell all my pets this fall and
+give the money to St. Luke's Hospital, and I shall sell every egg my
+chickens lay, for the same purpose."
+
+After that Phil asked no more questions, but worked harder than ever at
+his drawings, and as the season advanced, and flowers and fruit grew
+more abundant, they were able to despatch a basket twice a week.
+
+Every day was filled with new life and pleasure. Increasing strength
+alone would have been a source of happiness, but in addition to this
+Phil had the benefit of Aunt Rachel's loving-kindness, Lisa's nursing,
+Joe's good offices, and Graham's pleasant, friendly attentions. Then he
+was learning constantly something new, with eyes and ears, from the book
+of nature, with all its wonderful pictures, and from the other books
+allowed him.
+
+Driving behind old Slow Coach and floating on the lake in the _Flyaway_
+were some of the delights, and when more visitors came, and two charming
+young cousins of Aunt Rachel made the house resound with melody, Phil
+thought his happiness complete. But a new surprise was in store for him
+when, after repeated consultations and measurements and whisperings, a
+huge parcel was brought to his room, and Aunt Rachel and Lisa took off
+the wrappings. Neither of them looked particularly joyful as a pair of
+stout crutches made their appearance, but their faces changed
+wonderfully when Phil gave a cry of glee, and said, hilariously, "Now I
+can walk! now I can walk!"
+
+He was eager to use his new helps, but it took a longer time than he had
+imagined to get accustomed to them, and it was many weeks before he
+could go down the garden paths (followed by Nep with much gravity, as if
+Phil were in his especial care) with desirable ease.
+
+Coming in from one of these rather tiresome attempts one warm morning,
+and hearing music and voices in the parlor, Phil strayed into the
+dining-room, which was darkened and cool, and fragrant with fresh
+flowers. He lay down on a lounge, with his crutches beside him, and was
+listening to the pretty waltz being played in the other room, when he
+thought he saw a tiny creature light upon one of his crutches. Supposing
+it, however, to be a butterfly, he watched it in a sleepy, dreamy
+fashion, until it approached more nearly, and these words startled him:
+
+"You do not know me?" said a tiny voice, rather reproachfully.
+
+"What! is it you, my dear little wind fairy?" he asked. "I never dreamed
+that I should see you again. How did you get here?"
+
+"Blown here, to be sure, as I always am, only I have to pilot myself, or
+what would be the use of having wings? I came on some thistle-down this
+time, for I wanted to have another peep at you, and I have had hard work
+to follow you in here, I assure you; but the vibrations of that lovely
+music helped me, and here I am. Do not talk--let me do it all. I never
+have much time, you know, and I want to thank you for your goodness in
+taking my advice, and helping some of my little sick friends. You do not
+begin to know what good you have done--nobody does; but doing good is
+very like the big snowballs that children make in winter--a little ball
+at first, but as they roll, it grows bigger and bigger, almost of
+itself, until it is more than one can manage. So it has been with your
+kind action: many have imitated it, and flowers come now to the
+hospitals by the bushel. Not only children, but grown people, sad with
+suffering, have been cheered and benefited. And you too are growing
+strong: how glad I am to see it! Your cheeks are tinged with just a
+delicate bloom, and you have grown taller. Ah, the country is the place
+for you children! I saw one of your sketches in the hospital the other
+day, hung under a little cross made of moss; it was a water-lily, and
+out of it was stepping some one who looked like me. The child who owned
+it said it came to her tied to some roses. She did not know I heard her;
+she was telling a visitor, and she said it made her happy every time she
+looked at it. That was a pretty thought of yours. This is my last visit
+for a long while. I am to be sent off to fan her Royal Highness, the
+Queen of Kind Wishes, when her coronation takes place. She lives in her
+palace of Heart's Ease, in a far-away island. I am to sail part of the
+way in a nautilus--one of those lovely shells you have seen, I dare
+say."
+
+"No," said Phil, "I never saw one. And so you are going away--"
+
+"Never saw a nautilus!" interrupted the fairy, as if afraid Phil was
+going to be doleful over her departure. "It looks like a ship, for all
+the world, and it _is_ a ship for me, but it would not hold you--oh no!
+not such a gigantic creature as a boy"; and the fairy laughed aloud.
+
+"Dear me," said Phil; "no more visits, no more fairy stories. What will
+I do?"
+
+"Shall I tell you just one more story before I say good-bye?"
+
+"Please do."
+
+"Well, shut your eyes and listen."
+
+Phil obeyed, and the fairy began:
+
+"In the days when fairies had much more power than they now have, there
+lived in a little house on the edge of a wood haunted by elves and
+brownies a boy named Arthur. He was a bright, handsome lad, but a little
+lazy, and much more fond of pleasure than of work; and he had a way of
+flinging himself down in the woods to lounge and sleep when his mother
+at home was waiting for him to come back with a message, or to do some
+little promised task. Now the fairies knew this, and it displeased them;
+for they are as busy as bees, and do not like idleness. Besides, as one
+bad habit leads to another, Arthur, in his lounging ways, would often do
+great damage to the fairies' flower-beds, switching off the heads of
+wild-flowers in the most ruthless fashion, and even pulling them up by
+the roots when he felt like it.
+
+"One day he had been indulging this whim without any motive, hardly even
+thinking what he was doing, when he began to feel very strangely: a
+slight chill made him shiver; his eyes felt as if they were coming out
+of his head, his legs as if they were getting smaller and smaller; he
+had an irresistible desire to hop, and he was very thirsty. There was a
+rivulet near, and instead of walking to it he leaped, and stooping to
+drink, he saw himself reflected in its smooth surface. No longer did he
+see Arthur; no longer was he a mortal boy. Instead of this, a frog--a
+green speckled frog, with great bulging eyes and a fishy mouth--looked
+up at him. He tried to call, to shout, but in vain; he could only croak,
+and this in the most dismal manner. What was he to do? Sit and stare
+about him, try to catch flies, plunge down into the mud--charming
+amusements for the rest of his life! A little brown bird hopped down for
+a drink from the rivulet; she stooped and rose, stooped and rose, again
+and again.
+
+"A great green tear rolled down from the frog's bulging eye, and
+splashed beside the bird's drinking-place. She looked up in alarm, and
+said, in the sweetest voice imaginable, 'Can I do anything to assist
+you?'
+
+"'I am sure I don't know,' croaked Arthur, hoarse as if he had been born
+with a sore throat.
+
+"'But what _is_ the matter?' persisted the little brown bird, as more
+green tears splashed beside her.
+
+"'The matter is that I am a frog, I suppose,' said Arthur, rather
+rudely.
+
+"'Well, what of that?' still said the little bird. 'Frogs are very
+respectable.'
+
+"'Are they, indeed; then I'd rather not be respectable,' said Arthur.
+
+"'You shock me,' said the bird.
+
+"'I don't wonder; it has been a great shock to me,' responded Arthur.
+
+"'What has?' said the bird.
+
+"'Being a frog,' replied Arthur.
+
+"'Have you not always? Oh no; I presume you were once a tadpole; all
+frogs are at first.'
+
+"'Indeed I never was a tadpole,' said Arthur, indignantly; and then, it
+seeming somewhat a funny idea to him, he began to laugh in the hoarsest,
+croakiest _kerthumps_, which brought him to his senses again. Then he
+added, to the little brown bird which fluttered about him in some
+agitation, 'No, I never was a tadpole--I was a boy named Arthur a few
+moments ago.'
+
+"'Aha!' twittered the little brown bird, 'I see now: you have been
+bewitched.'
+
+"'I suppose so,' said Arthur, 'and I would gladly be bewitched into a
+boy again, if that would do any good.'
+
+"'I must try and see what I can do for you. I am very busy repairing my
+nest--it was injured in the last storm; but I will go as soon as I can
+to see one of the herb elves, and find out what is to be done. You must
+have displeased them very much.'
+
+"'You are very kind,' replied Arthur, taking no notice of the latter
+words.
+
+"'Oh no, not at all; it is a pleasure,' said the little brown bird.
+
+"'Can I do anything for you?' asked Arthur, roused into politeness by
+the pleasant manners of his little friend.
+
+"'You might gather some twigs or moss. Oh no, it would be all wet, and I
+should have great bother in drying it,' said the little house-keeper. 'I
+am equally obliged, but you had better just stay quiet and keep cool
+till I return'; and she flew softly away.
+
+"'I can keep cool enough,' repeated Arthur; 'when one's legs are in the
+water, it would be pretty hard to do anything else.'
+
+"It seemed dreadfully long to wait, when all he could do was to wink and
+yawn and gobble flies, and yet lounging in the woods and killing flowers
+had never seemed tedious when he was a boy. He tried to go to sleep, but
+was in too great a bewilderment to quietly close his eyes in slumber, so
+he gazed at the brook, and wondered when the little brown bird would
+reappear."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+THE FAIRY'S STORY CONTINUED
+
+
+"Sooner than he had supposed, Arthur heard the soft little twitter of
+his new friend.
+
+"'I have flown really quite a distance, and had the good-fortune to see
+the elf who has charge of these woods. He is very much vexed with you,
+and will not listen to any excuse; though knowing so little about the
+matter, I hardly knew what to offer. I pleaded your youth, however, and
+made bold to promise your good behavior in the future, and while I was
+speaking one of the lesser elves twitched my wing a little, and
+whispered,
+
+"'"Promise him something he likes as a ransom, and perhaps he will
+answer your request."
+
+"'"But I do not know what he likes," I replied. "Can you suggest
+anything?" I added, in the same whisper.
+
+"'"He is very much in need of some sea-weed. I heard him say the other
+day that he wanted some iodine, and that he would have to send a party
+of us off to the sea-shore to get sea-weed, from which we make iodine.
+Now, if your friend can get it, he would be so much pleased that I am
+sure he would be willing to forgive him, and restore him to his proper
+condition."
+
+"'After hearing this, I made the offer in your name, and received a
+favorable reply. You are to get two pounds of sea-weed in less than a
+fortnight. It is to be laid on the large flat rock which you will see
+lower down the stream, under the chestnut-tree. You are to leave it
+there, and by no means to remain there, but return here, and your
+reward will await you.'
+
+"Arthur thanked the little bird warmly, but inwardly despaired of
+accomplishing anything so difficult.
+
+"The little bird hopped restlessly about. 'You will try to do this, will
+you not?' she asked.
+
+"'Of course I will try,' said Arthur, rather ashamed, and striving to
+put a bold face on the matter. 'I will try, but I do not know exactly
+what to do first.'
+
+"'Streams run into rivers, and rivers to the sea,' twittered the bird.
+
+"'Yes; but I hardly think frogs swim in deep water. I will have to
+contrive a boat or a float of some sort.'
+
+"Just then a huge trout sprang up after a fly and missed it. Quick as a
+flash the little bird darted up, caught the fly, dropped it into the
+trout's open mouth, and twittered something unintelligible to Arthur. He
+heard, however, a curious sound of words from the trout.
+
+"'Jump on my back, jump on my back, and be off, alack!'
+
+"'Go,' said the bird, quickly.
+
+"Arthur made a bound, and found himself on Mr. Specklesides's back in
+an instant.
+
+"'Good-bye,' sang the little bird, loudly, for already the trout had
+flashed away into a dark pool beneath a cascade, where the falling
+waters made a deafening noise. In another instant he made another dart,
+and quick as lightning they were in broad, shallow water. Again they
+were whirled from eddy to eddy, and already the stream had widened into
+a little river. The bending trees, the weeds, and grasses, were mirrored
+in its cool depths, as now with long, steady stroke the trout swam on.
+
+"Suddenly another shape darkened the glassy surface of the water. It was
+the figure of a man in slouched hat and high boots, and long tapering
+rod in hand. He seemed to be quite motionless, but far out near the
+middle of the stream, just where the trout was swimming, danced a
+brilliant fly. A leap, a dash, and then began such a whirling mad rush
+through the water that Arthur knew he would be overthrown. The trout had
+seized the fly, and the fisherman, rapidly unreeling his line, waited
+for the fish to exhaust himself. Before this was done, however, Arthur
+was thrown violently off the trout's back, and by dint of desperate
+efforts reached the shore, where for a long while he lay motionless.
+
+"When he revived he found himself in long sedgy grass, well shielded
+from observation. The trout was nowhere to be seen, and Arthur knew that
+it was idle to search for him. Poor fellow! his fate had found him, and
+no doubt he was lying quietly enough now in the fisherman's basket.
+
+"'"Streams run into rivers, and rivers to the sea," and I must look for
+some other method than the trout's back.'
+
+"He hopped about wearily, ate a few flies, and then, quite worn out,
+fell fast asleep. When he awoke it was dark. Fire-flies flashed about
+him brilliantly; stars beamed so brightly that they seemed double, half
+above in the sky, and half below in the water. From some overhanging
+boughs came a dismal hooting.
+
+"'Hush!' cried Arthur, impatiently. 'Why do you want to spoil the night
+with such wailing?'
+
+"'I have lost three lovely little owlets,' was the response. 'Darling
+little fluffy cherubs! Never had an owl-mother three such beauties!'
+
+"'Where are they?' asked Arthur.
+
+"'Devoured by a horrible night-hawk,' sobbed the owl.
+
+"'Where has the night-hawk flown?'
+
+"'Far down the river after prey.'
+
+"'Why do you not go after him and punish him?'
+
+"'It is too far, and I am too sorrowful.'
+
+"'You have no spirit. _I_ would peck his eyes out were I in your place.'
+
+"'Ah! you are young and strong and brave.'
+
+"'Take me on your back, and we will fly after him.'
+
+"'Come, then, and do battle for me, noble friend.'
+
+"Down flew the owl, and up jumped Arthur quickly on its back, inwardly
+wondering how a frog could be a match for a night-hawk, but quite
+resolved to aid the poor owl if he could. With a delightful sense of
+freedom and glorious liberty, such as he had never before even imagined,
+they rose high above the tree-tops.
+
+"The moon had now risen, and the air seemed transparent silver.
+
+"Keeping near the border of the river, which had greatly widened, they
+emerged from one forest only to enter another.
+
+"The wild cries of loons saluted them; herds of deer, cooling themselves
+in the water, glanced up with startled gaze as they passed.
+
+"A dark bird flapped low over the water as a fish leaped from the waves.
+
+"'It is my enemy,' whispered the owl.
+
+"'Pursue him,' returned Arthur.
+
+"'My heart sinks within me; the memory of my owlets subdues all
+revengefulness. Though I should make him suffer, it would not return to
+me my children.'
+
+"'But if we kill him he can do no further mischief.'
+
+"'True, true; but he is a fearful fellow. What weapons have you with
+which to meet him?'
+
+"'None but my eyes and legs; a frog is a poor despicable wretch under
+such circumstances. Our weight together might sink him. You must fly at
+him with one tremendous blow, get him down in the water, and all the fish
+will assist to punish him, for all owe him a grudge. Or stay: fly close
+to him, and I will leap upon him; the weight will surprise and annoy
+him, and you must then make a dash for his eyes. Pluck them out if you
+can; it will be worse than death for him.'
+
+"'Barbaric torture! But the memory of my owlets hardens my motherly
+heart; it pulsates with tremendous force; their loss is the world's
+loss. I hasten to the combat.'
+
+"They swept down low as the hawk swooped for fish; Arthur sprang upon
+its back; the owl darted at the creature's eyes, and with a furious
+blow, first at one then at the other, made her enemy sightless. The
+hawk, with a cry of pain, fell into the water. Instantly an enormous
+fish dragged him beneath, and it was only by wonderful dexterity on the
+part of the owl and of the frog that the latter was unhurt. He nestled
+once again among the owl's soft feathers, and they sought the shore.
+
+"'Now how shall I repay you, my brave friend?' asked the owl, as Arthur
+leaped upon land.
+
+"'I do not wish for any reward,' replied Arthur.
+
+"'Nevertheless, you will not refuse to grant a sorrowful and stricken
+mother the little balm which her grateful spirit seeks in the return or
+acknowledgment of so vast a favor as you have conferred upon me.'
+
+"Arthur thought a moment, and then told the owl of his journey and
+errand to the sea-shore. 'Perhaps, as you are so famous for wisdom,
+Mother Owl, you may be able to give me some advice which will assist me
+to get the sea-weed, and return as speedily as I can,' he said, as he
+finished his narration.
+
+"'I will consider,' replied the owl, bending her searching gaze towards
+the earth. After a few moments' reflection, in which she rolled her
+luminous and cat-like eyes about, ruffled her feathers, and uttered a
+few soft 'to-whit to-whoos,' she murmured, 'I have it. Seldom do I
+require to deliberate so anxiously, but parental anguish has clouded my
+active brain; the recent combat, also, has exhausted my nervous system.
+I have the happy thought at last, though, and you shall be assisted. We
+will fly to the nest of an old friend, a celebrated kingfisher. He lives
+not far from here; he knows the coast well, and will aid us. Come, mount
+upon my willing back, and we will fly at once.'
+
+"This was no sooner said than done. They flew swiftly over the now broad
+expanse of water, rolling in a powerful stream, bordered by a wild and
+harsh-looking forest. A few tall and leafless trunks in a cluster
+contained, high among the bare boughs, a huge nest. From it, aroused
+from his sleep, sullenly flapped a large bird.
+
+"'Wait a moment, my friend,' called the owl, in her most beseeching
+manner. 'I have a favor to ask. I wish to appeal to your intelligent
+geographical, topographical, and comprehensive intellect for guidance.
+You know the coast; lead us to it before the dawn of day.'
+
+"'A most unwarrantable request, upon my word,' was the answer, in a
+gruff voice. 'Why should you thus disturb my slumber, and demand of me
+this journey in the night?'"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE FAIRY'S STORY CONCLUDED
+
+
+"The owl replied softly, telling her errand, praising the bravery of the
+frog, and evidently pleasing the kingfisher with the news of the death
+of his enemy the night-hawk.
+
+"'I will go,' he answered. 'I do not pretend to be chivalric; I should
+prefer to sleep; nevertheless, I will go. Rise, follow-me. I expected to
+breakfast at home; now we will get some seafood.'
+
+"'He is always thus,' whispered the owl, as Arthur and she rose high in
+the air. 'He is a wonderful naturalist, a student of ichthyology, has a
+vast and profound fund of knowledge, but a great gourmand, always
+considering what he will eat; but he is reliable; we may trust him.'
+
+"They sailed now high, now low, over ravines and gulfs, until the
+continuous murmur which had accompanied them deepened into the steady,
+solemn roar of the ocean. Great crags, broad sands, and huge waves
+tossing their white crests now met their eyes.
+
+"The soft faint gray of early dawn lit the heavens. The kingfisher
+perched himself on the top of a rock, and watched the seething waves
+with a steady and keen outlook. The owl fluttered down to the long line
+of breakers, and bade Arthur notice the immense quantity of sea-weed
+fringing the rocks in all directions.
+
+"'Now how to carry it back is the question,' said Arthur, rather
+dolorously.
+
+"'My friend, have no fear,' said the owl. 'Go to work bravely, and
+gather all you can, then we will arrange to transport it. Hasten,
+however, as much as you can.'
+
+"Arthur hopped about zealously. He was half deafened with the thunder of
+the waves, half blinded with the dashing spray, half drowned with the
+salt-water pouring from every cliff and cranny of the rocks. Still he
+tore and clutched at the sea-weed, dragging it in masses larger than his
+own frog body to where the owl waited for him on the beach, in a sort of
+grotto hollowed out by the waves. There they piled it until they both
+were assured they had the proper quantity. Then the owl flew to a
+promontory and hailed the kingfisher. Arthur, quite worn out, fell
+asleep. When he awoke, he found him self most strangely placed.
+
+"So soundly had he slept that the owl and kingfisher, having completed
+their arrangements for the removal of the sea-weed, had removed Arthur
+also, and he woke to find himself on the back of an enormous sturgeon,
+with sea-weed under him, over him, and about him. Tightly about the
+sturgeon was bound an old rope, which the kingfisher had procured from
+the remains of a wreck on the rocks, and in which he had entangled
+the sturgeon; this rope the owl and kingfisher took turns in holding,
+keeping the sturgeon near the surface of the waves by its check upon his
+movements, which were very bold and rapid. Thus, by the double force of
+flying and swimming, Arthur was carried with immense speed into the
+quiet waters of a bay from which they had emerged on arriving at the
+ocean.
+
+[Illustration: MAKING THE STURGEON USEFUL]
+
+"From the bay they sailed up into the river, and were coursing rapidly
+on to its narrower surface, when the sturgeon suddenly gave a great
+leap, very nearly throwing Arthur and his precious load off his back.
+
+"The owl screamed, the kingfisher shouted hoarsely, but tightened his
+hold upon the rope, while the sturgeon dashed madly on.
+
+"Again he made another frantic leap, whereupon the kingfisher gave him a
+thrust with his beak, to which the sturgeon replied,
+
+"'The current is becoming too shallow; I can go no farther. I _must_
+have air. How can you expect me to go up this trout stream? have you no
+mercy for such a beast of burden as you have made me?'
+
+"'Forward again!' shouted the kingfisher, tightening the rope once
+more.
+
+"Arthur felt the sturgeon shiver, and was conscious that his movements
+were weaker. Another leap, and he burst the rope; but as he jumped he
+tossed his load of sea-weed high in the air; it fell, and Arthur with
+it, on a rock.
+
+"The owl gave a long, dismal cry, the kingfisher swept madly away after
+the sturgeon, and Arthur, bruised and sore, lay panting on the rock. For
+a long while he could do nothing. The owl went off in search of food,
+promising to return at nightfall. The day wore on. Arthur, weak with
+hunger, tried to devour some of the sea-weed. It was too bitter and
+salty. Leaning over the edge of the rock, he saw a shoal of tiny fishes
+playing hide-and-seek in the eddies of the stream. He clutched at one of
+them and devoured it. Never had he tasted a sweeter morsel. He caught
+another, and another, until his hunger was fully appeased. Evening came
+again; the moon shone early; Arthur was awakened from a long nap by the
+hooting of the owl, which said,
+
+"'Here I am again, my distressed friend.'
+
+"At the same moment the kingfisher swooped down on them, and stood
+tilting and flapping his wings on a corner of the rock. 'Now,' said he,
+'as I am a bird of my word, and have promised to help you, we will
+proceed to business. This sea-weed is dry, as you see, and very much
+lighter. You, Mrs. Owl, can easily carry it, while I will take your
+young friend Mr. Frog. Let us be off at once, you, madam, directing the
+flight.'
+
+"The kingfisher and Arthur then heaped the sea-weed upon the owl, and
+Arthur, clambering on the rather oily back of the kingfisher, was once
+again going over the tree-tops.
+
+"Before morning they had reached the desired spot, the flat rock under
+the chestnut-tree, placed the sea-weed upon it, and, hardly waiting for
+thanks, the kingfisher left them.
+
+"Arthur thanked the owl warmly, assuring her of his deep gratitude. To
+which the owl replied, 'You have done me quite as good service, and my
+thanks are quite as due to you. I return to my empty nest a desolate
+mother, but never shall I forget your generous sympathy. Possibly I may
+find consolation, but should I ever raise another brood, it could never
+equal the beauty of my lost darlings. Alas! we feathered creatures have
+great trials: we toil diligently for our families, build nests at great
+cost of time and effort, often to see them swept away by the winds; or,
+our nests lasting, and unattacked by enemies, many a young bird is
+thrown to the earth by the violence of storms, and comes to an untimely
+end through starvation. Sympathy, therefore, we appreciate; it helps us
+to bear our sorrows with becoming fortitude. Never shall I forget your
+gallantry, my friend; the thought of it will cheer many a solitary hour
+when all the world is asleep. I bid you farewell.' So saying, the owl
+flapped her wings and was gone.
+
+"Arthur hopped away from the chestnut-tree to the place where he had
+lost himself. It was early morning, but he was wearied, and slept in
+spite of all his anxiety. When he awoke he was no longer a frog, but a
+very hungry boy. The noonday sun was shining, and at his side hopped a
+little brown bird. It twittered gladly, as if congratulating him, but
+not one word could he understand. Before this adventure he would have
+probably frightened it away, but now he reached out his hand softly and
+stroked its feathers, then seeking berries, he placed them where the
+little creature could feast upon them. It peered at him with its bright
+little eyes, and even perched upon his shoulder. Never again did Arthur
+idly destroy any living creature of the woods--not the humblest weed or
+flower, bright-winged insect or speckled egg. Nor did he loiter again
+when sent upon errands. The elves thereafter left him in peace."
+
+"Good-bye, dear Phil; I am off now. This is my last story."
+
+"Where am I? Has the music stopped? Was it my wind harp--my poor little
+wind harp?"
+
+"Why, Phil, your wind harp is broken. Did you not know that it fell from
+your window last night?" said Lisa, coming into the dining-room.
+
+"No. I wonder if I shall ever see the wind fairy again?"
+
+"Dreaming again, Phil?" said Lisa.
+
+"You always think I dream, Lisa, whenever I speak of fairies."
+
+"Do I, dear? Well, you must get ready now for Graham; he is coming to
+take you out on the lake. Miss Schuyler will not be home to dinner, and
+we three are to have ours on Eagle Island."
+
+Phil went up-stairs and gathered together the broken pieces of his wind
+harp. He folded each piece up carefully in paper, and put them all away.
+"No more fairy stories," he said to himself. "Well, I suppose I am
+getting beyond them, and must put up with sober facts; but they are not
+half so nice," he said, with a sigh--"not half so nice." Then he took
+out his sketch-book and pencils, and prepared for work.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+PLANS FOR THE WINTER
+
+
+Summer had gone. Visitors had gone. Graham had gone to school. The banks
+of the lake were red and yellow, brown and purple, with autumnal
+foliage. Aunt Rachel was superintending the making of preserves. Lisa
+was at work on the piazza. Phil was sketching.
+
+Slowly up the garden path came old Joe. He took off his hat and stood
+still a moment waiting for Phil to speak.
+
+"Well, Joe, what is it?" said Phil, hardly looking up, he was so busy.
+
+"This is just as fine as ever the garden of Eden was, but old Adam had
+to go, you know, Massa Phil." He had lately, of his own accord, put the
+Massa before Phil's name.
+
+"What are you driving at, Joe?" asked Phil, absently.
+
+"I mean I's a-gwine home, Massa Phil."
+
+"To the city?" said Phil, surprised into attention.
+
+"Yes, back to New York. I wants to go to work."
+
+"Have you not enough to do here?"
+
+"No," said Joe, with a chuckle. "It's all play here--no real hard work
+sich as I's customed to."
+
+"It is time you took it easy, Joe," said Phil.
+
+"True nuff, but I's not one of the easy sort. Besides, who knows, Massa
+Phil, but there may be other chillen--poor sick chillen--waitin' for to
+hear my fiddle an' be comforted?"
+
+Phil looked up hastily; a bright look of gratitude and love came into
+his eyes.
+
+Just then Miss Schuyler appeared, with a glass jar of jelly in her
+hand; the maid was following with a trayful.
+
+"Joe wants to go to the city, Aunt Rachel," said Phil.
+
+"I dare say," was the ready response. "He wants a little gossip over the
+kitchen fires, and he wants this nice jar of jelly for his
+bread-and-butter when he has company to tea; and as we all are going
+home next week, he may as well wait for the rest of us."
+
+"Aunt Rachel!" said Phil, in dismay. Going home to the city seemed like
+going back to poverty and illness, and the garret room he so well
+remembered.
+
+Aunt Rachel divined it all. "You belong to me now, Phil. Lisa and I are
+partners henceforth; and while you and I travel in search of health,
+study, and improvement, Lisa is going to keep house for us in her own
+nice, quiet way."
+
+"Travel!--where?--when?" said Phil, eagerly.
+
+"The doctors suggest our going abroad--to a warm climate for the
+winter--where we please; in summer, to the German baths."
+
+"Oh, Aunt Rachel!"
+
+This was enough for Phil to think of and wonder about all the rest of
+the happy days at the lake. He could walk now with comparative ease, not
+of course without crutches, and the gold and scarlet glory of the autumn
+leaves was a perpetual delight to him. He gathered them for wreaths and
+bouquets; he pressed them and ironed them and varnished them, and tried
+every method suggested to him for keeping them; and when it came packing
+time it was found necessary to get an extra trunk to contain all the
+woodland treasures.
+
+The happy summer had ended, and not without a lingering look of regret
+that it could not last longer was the farewell said to the house and
+lake and every pretty graceful tree or plant that adorned them.
+
+They found the city house all in nice order for them, for Aunt Rachel
+was always wise in her forethought and provision for future comfort.
+
+Phil's little room near her own had been especially attended to, and he
+found it, in all its arrangements, as complete and satisfactory as the
+lovely summer nook he had vacated.
+
+In three weeks' time they were to start for Europe. The days were spent
+in preparation. Phil must have a steamer-chair, plenty of clothes,
+wraps, and contrivances. All Aunt Rachel's thoughts were for Phil's
+comfort; but it did not spoil him nor make him selfish; he had the happy
+faculty of receiving kindness gracefully, as if glad to be the means of
+making others happy by his gratitude, not as if it were his due in any
+way. And in his turn he was thoughtful and considerate for others, in
+trifles light as air, but nevertheless showing by the gentle, tender
+manner that he meant them as evidences of his affection. He knew Lisa
+dreaded parting from him, so before her he was quite silent as to his
+expected pleasures, although his imagination was constantly picturing
+the details of an ocean voyage. His sketch-book was getting full of
+yachts and craft of all sorts and sizes--some that would have astonished
+a sailor very much. Whenever he met Lisa he kissed her, whether with hat
+on she was hurrying out on some errand for Miss Schuyler, or on her
+return, with arms full of bundles, she was hastening through the hall.
+
+He was necessarily left much alone, and thus had the chance to draw a
+charming little picture for Lisa, and frame it with acorns, lichen, and
+red maple leaves. He hung it in her room one day when she was out, and,
+to his surprise, the next day it was missing. He had expected some
+recognition of it, but none coming, he kept still, wondering what Lisa
+had done with it. The secret came out in due time.
+
+A day or two before their departure Lisa came to him with tears in her
+eyes and a little package in her hand.
+
+"Open it, dear; it is for you."
+
+It was a tiny leather purse with four dollars in it.
+
+"Lisa, you must not give me all this."
+
+"Yes, it is yours--your own earnings. I sold your little picture, and
+bought this purse with part of the money, so that you might have
+something to spend just as you pleased."
+
+"Oh, Lisa!" was all Phil could say, for though grateful, he was yet
+disappointed that Lisa had not kept his picture.
+
+"Now, dear," she said, "you can buy some little trifle for Joe, and any
+one else you want to make a present to."
+
+"Thank you, Lisa; yes, I will. It is a very nice purse," he replied; but
+as soon as he could find Miss Schuyler he unburdened his heart.
+
+"After all the pains I took with that little picture, Aunt Rachel, to
+think of Lisa's selling it! Oh, how could she?"
+
+"Hush, dear Phil; Lisa is the most unselfish creature in the world. Has
+she not given you up to me? And for the pleasure she supposed it would
+give you to have money of your own earning, she was willing to part with
+even a thing so precious as a picture painted by you for her. Do not
+question her motive for a moment. Take the money, and buy her something
+useful. Come, we will go get a pretty work-basket; she will find it even
+more to her taste than a picture."
+
+So they went out and bought a light, nicely shaped basket, with little
+pockets all around it, and Aunt Rachel made it complete with a silver
+thimble, a strawberry emery cushion, a morocco needle-book, and an ample
+supply of silk, thread, needles, pins, and buttons.
+
+Lisa was delighted; but Phil could not be satisfied until he had painted
+another little picture, and made Lisa promise that no one else should
+ever have it.
+
+Joe was made happy with some new bandanna handkerchiefs in brilliant
+yellows and reds, a pipe, some tobacco, and a suit of clothes from Miss
+Schuyler.
+
+It was a tranquil, lovely day in the fall when the steamship sailed with
+Aunt Rachel and Phil on board. All the bay sparkled in the sunshine, and
+boats of every shape and size danced upon the blue water. After the
+bustle and confusion of getting off, the leave-takings, the cries and
+shouts of sailors, the blowing of whistles and ringing of bells, they
+sat quietly down to watch the receding shores, and look out upon the
+glittering water.
+
+"Aunt Rachel," said Phil, "it all seems like another fairy story to me,
+and we are sailing in a nautilus to the island of Heart's Ease."
+
+"Yes, dear child, so it does. And let us hope that we shall find that
+beautiful island, and never wish to leave it."
+
+
+
+
+FLORIO AND FLORELLA
+
+A CHRISTMAS FAIRY TALE
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+
+There was once a child named Florio, who had neither father nor mother,
+uncle nor aunt, and so it happened that he was adopted by a witch. He
+might have had a fairy godmother if anybody had remembered to ask one to
+the christening, but as no one took enough interest in him for that, it
+was neglected, and poor Florio became the property of a hideous, hateful
+old hag, who was never so happy as when she was making trouble. Of
+course Florio was compelled to do her bidding. Naturally inoffensive and
+gentle, he was continually obliged to do violence to his conscience by
+obeying the witch.
+
+For instance, the witch--who was known by the name of Fussioldfuri, and
+lived in a miserable cavern when she was not travelling about--had
+great delight in spoiling any one's innocent amusement or upsetting his
+or her plans; she even started children quarrelling and disputing;
+indeed, she found this one of her particular pastimes when she was not
+engaged in annoying older people.
+
+It was among children that she made Florio particularly useful--so
+useful, in fact, that he never had a friend. If she found him amusing
+himself with a happy little company, she made him do some selfish or
+ugly thing which at once put a stop to all the cheerfulness; and often,
+before he knew what he was about, he would be struggling and kicking and
+screaming and flinging himself upon one or the other of his comrades,
+while Fuss--as we must call her for convenience--laughed till she shook,
+and tears of joy ran down her ugly leathery cheeks. Then Florio,
+ashamed, miserable, and unhappy, would creep off to a corner and weep as
+if his little heart would break.
+
+It was after one of these dreadful occurrences one day that Florio,
+hiding in the woods, heard a strange rustling among the bushes. He was
+so used to wandering about after old Fuss, and living anyhow and
+anywhere, that he was more like a little creature of the woods himself
+than anything else, and it took a good deal to frighten him. Patter,
+patter, patter it went. What could it be? He peered in and out and under
+the bush, but he saw nothing except a nest full of little blue eggs,
+which he would not touch for the world; no, he knew too well how pleased
+old Fuss would be to have him disturb this little bird family, and he
+concealed it again. As he did so, the sweetest little voice said,
+
+"That's right."
+
+Florio jumped as if a wasp had stung him.
+
+"Yes," continued the voice, "you couldn't have pleased me better."
+
+"But who are you? where are you?" asked Florio, to whom kind words were
+unknown, but on whom they had the effect of making his heart beat with a
+new and strange emotion.
+
+"I cannot tell you anything just now very well, but if you will meet me
+here in the moonlight this evening, Florio, I will be glad to see you."
+
+"To-night?" questioned the boy, who did not like the darkness.
+
+"Yes, child; have no fear. I am the fairy Florella. Adieu."
+
+The days were generally too short for Florio, who hated the nights in
+the dismal cavern, when Fuss pulled his hair and pinched his nose and
+tripped him up over her staff by way of amusement; but now he longed for
+the night to come, although it must be confessed he was not without
+fears. Fuss was uglier than usual, but this did not affect Florio as it
+might have done had he not had something unusual and exciting to think
+of. Soon as the witch tumbled down on her heap of straw for the night,
+and showed by her heavy breathing and frightful snoring that she was
+asleep, Florio crept softly from the cavern.
+
+It was a beautiful evening, soft and balmy, but to leave the bright
+roadway and enter the dark woods demanded some courage, for ill-usage
+had rendered Florio timid in the darkness, though, as I have said
+before, he did not fear wild animals. Indeed, when a young fox came
+cautiously out of the thicket, and glanced about, Florio approached near
+enough to touch his bushy tail.
+
+It was somewhat difficult to find the precise spot of the day's
+occurrence, but he noticed that whenever he went in a wrong direction a
+crowd of fire-flies would start up and show him the right way, and thus
+he was enabled to find the sweet-brier bush. As he reached it he heard
+the same patter, patter, patter on the leaves of the bush, and looking
+up he saw what caused the sound. Troops of tiny creatures were
+fluttering from leaf to leaf. Each had little silvery wings like
+butterflies, and each carried sprigs and sprays of blossoms, while
+following them came elves of most grotesque appearance, bearing platters
+of fruit and wild honey. In a moment they had formed a circle on the
+grass, and danced about, singing as they went, while the elves arranged
+a feast.
+
+When all was in readiness, one--of largest size and of apparent
+superiority--beckoned to Florio to come near. Afraid to disobey, yet
+equally fearful of treading upon them, Florio approached, and in a
+moment he was surrounded, and with gentle pressure obliged to take their
+various offerings. One gave him grape leave cups and baskets woven of
+perfumed grasses, another filled them with honey and fruit, while all
+laughed to see what appeared to them the enormous quantities necessary
+for one so large.
+
+"Florio, you have done well to obey me," said the same sweet voice he
+had heard in the daytime. "This, added to your consideration for the
+bird's-nest to-day, has pleased me, and your evident misery has aroused
+my compassion. Fussioldfuri is an enemy of ours, and I never expected to
+see one trained by her show a pitiful or kind spirit. It proves to me
+that there must be something in you worth cultivating. Are you willing
+to be guided by me? Do you want to leave old Fuss, and become one of my
+servitors?"
+
+Florio was not quite sure that he fully understood all that was said to
+him, but he was delighted at the idea of leaving Fuss, and said so.
+
+Florella smiled upon him, and continued, "It may not be so easy as you
+imagine; those who serve me have to stand a test of faithfulness,
+energy, and courage. Our life seems one of careless mirth, but it is not
+so. We, of course, are happy, and enjoy ourselves; but we have many
+duties, and are not altogether free, as would be supposed. I am at the
+head of this little band. We are Flower Fairies, cousins to the Wind
+Fairies and Herb Elves. I am familiar with every wild-flower that grows,
+and I am now desirous of getting for our forests some seeds of the
+Swiss Edelweiss. If you can procure them for me I will reward you
+handsomely."
+
+Poor Florio heard this speech with consternation. He had never in all
+his life known one flower from another. Where, when, how could he go?
+And if he went, how should he escape Fuss? These thoughts made the poor
+child falter and grow pale. It would have been so much easier to say he
+could not do it, and have done with the matter; but the remembrance of
+his horrible slavery, and the thought that Florella believed in his
+ability to aid her, stimulated his courage, and he said,
+
+"I know nothing of flowers, dear lady; I am a very ignorant fellow; but
+if you will direct me, and tell me where to go, I am ready to try."
+
+"Spoken well, my lad," said the fairy. "I do not expect impossibilities.
+_We_ are the only ones who can do what seems impossible to man. The
+Edelweiss is a mountain flower, growing on the highest Alps, and many a
+man has lost his life striving to pluck it for one he loved. It is much
+esteemed for its rarity, and because of the often great difficulty of
+getting it. See, here is a dried blossom;" and she put in his hand a
+small white flower like an immortelle, though Florio thought that it
+looked as if it were made of flannel, it was so soft and woolly.
+
+"This you must keep; see, I will put it in this case of birch-bark, and
+you had better place it in your bosom. Now I must tell you about the
+journey. To leave Fussioldfuri immediately might make the task more
+difficult. She is about starting for the mountains, and if you keep with
+her a while longer you will be able to find the place you need much
+sooner than if you went alone. But when you reach Geneva you are to
+leave her. Can you remember that?"
+
+"Oh yes, the rhyme will help me:
+
+  "'When I get to Geneva,
+  Then I must leave her.'"
+
+"Exactly; and then you are to seek the Edelweiss, and when you have
+gathered the seeds you are to meet me here in this forest, whether it be
+winter or whether it be summer. Adieu."
+
+The fairy vanished, and with her went her band--nodding, waving, and
+kissing their finger-tips.
+
+Oh, how dreary the woods seemed without the little troop! The wind
+sighed in the pines, and the moonlight cast fearful shadows from the
+gnarled and knotty boughs.
+
+Florio rose with a sigh and stretched his limbs, wondering if it was
+worth while to try and do the fairy's bidding when he had to go back to
+hear the dreaded voice of old Fuss. Then he made sure of the birch-bark
+case, and again with the aid of the fire-flies found the road. Fuss was
+sound asleep still when he laid himself down on his bundle of straw in
+the farthest corner of the cavern. One thing he did not notice, and that
+was the young fox whose bushy tail he had touched going into the woods.
+It had followed him home, and crept in under the straw beside him.
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+
+High up in the Swiss mountains a storm was brewing. On their
+cloud-capped summits nothing could be seen but snow--dazzling, blinding
+white snow, and wreaths of vapor which congealed as it fell. All day the
+people of the hamlets had been preparing for the visitor, knowing full
+well that they should be housed for weeks after its descent, and as
+Christmas was approaching, it was needful that much should be done.
+
+As the day grew darker, each hurried to complete his or her work, and
+none essayed more eagerly to do this than young Franz, the goatherd; but
+try as he would, the heedless, wanton little flock were constantly
+escaping from him, and if it had not been for Jan, the great mastiff of
+the famous St. Bernard breed, he would have been still more troubled. As
+it was, he found one goat missing when he went to house them, and again
+he had to take his alpenstock and try what he could do.
+
+By this time the storm was indeed upon them, and between the wind and
+the snow, the icy atmosphere and the darkness, Franz had about concluded
+to let the goat go, when Jan began to sniff about and bark, and show by
+signs as easily read as print that he was seeking something. Franz
+thought it must be on account of the goat, but just then old Nan
+appeared with her customary capriciousness, and made no resistance to
+the cord with which Franz bound her.
+
+Still Jan kept up his scratching and sniffing and barking, and Franz
+knew only too well that there was no use in opposing him, although his
+fingers and toes were half frozen.
+
+As soon as the dog saw that Franz recognized the necessity of following
+him he quieted down, and with a zealous industry nosed the path from
+side to side, as if in search of something; nor did he have to go far,
+for they presently descried what seemed like a big snow-heap on one side
+of the now undiscoverable path.
+
+Here Jan halted and looked intently; then he began scratching and
+whining again, and Franz saw a bit of cloth. Soon an arm appeared, and
+next a leg, and after vigorous work from both Franz and Jan, the whole
+figure of a child, clasping something in its arms, was uncovered. Dead
+or alive, Franz knew not which it was; but very well he knew what it was
+the child carried, for its big bushy red tail showed it to be a fox, and
+it too was as motionless and lifeless as the child.
+
+The goatherd had braved the dangers of the mountains all his lifetime,
+and knew how to be cool and decided in the presence of danger. He had
+his knife and drinking-cup beside him, and his horn slung over his
+shoulder. In a moment he had made Nan stand still while he milked her,
+and then he pried open the stiff lips of the lad, and forced the warm
+liquid within. As he did so, the child revived and swallowed, for he had
+not been long unconscious. Then putting him on Jan's back, and driving
+Nan before him, Franz made his way home as best he could.
+
+It was late when tired Franz, whose mother was in the door-way looking
+anxiously for him, arrived. All the children were within, and the fire
+was burning brightly. On the table the soup was steaming. An exclamation
+of surprise arose from all as Jan and his burden marched in.
+
+"Who is it?" "Where did he come from?" "Where did you find him?" "What
+was he doing all alone in the storm?" burst from all their lips.
+
+"So, so; slowly, please," answered the cool and courageous Franz. Then
+he told them his adventure.
+
+"A stranger lad, lost on the roadside," murmured the mother, as she took
+the boy from Jan and carefully undressed him, the children meanwhile
+attending to the nearly frozen fox.
+
+"Poor child! poor child! he shall be welcome. A sorry Christmas it is
+for him."
+
+"Not when he fell into your hands, good mother," said Franz, ladling out
+the soup.
+
+"No indeed--no indeed," said one and all.
+
+But the mother's words seemed to be the truth, for though the child
+revived, and was able to take nourishment, a fever set in, from which he
+did not rally. Day by day he lay in the little curtained recess where he
+could see them all with his great wondering eyes, watching them carve
+their beautiful toys--for this was their winter work--but saying
+nothing, for he knew not their language, and only one word had he
+uttered which they could understand.
+
+This word was simply "Edelweiss." "Edelweiss," he muttered, when the
+fever was at its height, and "Edelweiss" he softly whispered when
+dreaming.
+
+The children called him "Little Edelweiss," and fed his fox, which
+lapped their hands and brought a sweet smile to the face of the little
+sufferer.
+
+Christmas-eve would be on the morrow, and all were busy dressing the
+room with boughs of evergreen. The tree stood in the corner, waiting
+for its glittering fruit. Outside the sheaf of grain had been tied to a
+pole for the snow-birds. All had some trifling gifts prepared for a
+joyful keeping of the day, Franz only seemed to be uneasy. He would
+glance at the pale face of his little foundling, and then he would look
+out to see if the weather was fine, and at last he reached up for his
+thickest wrap and staff, and away he went up the mountain-side. Nothing
+could be seen up that way but the red roof of a convent, and peak after
+peak of ice piercing the blue sky.
+
+It was late when he returned and put something carefully behind the
+tree. All were waiting for their supper, for they were anxious to go to
+bed that the dear Christmas might the sooner come.
+
+His mother scolded a little, but the stranger boy put up his thin hand
+reprovingly, as if he could not bear to have Franz rebuked, and then
+they all laughed, for they all loved Franz.
+
+But soon they were sleeping quietly, and the moon shone upon happy
+faces--only the little guest tossed and murmured "Edelweiss."
+
+The morrow came, and with it many a merry greeting. And now they could
+hardly wait for the day to pass. Long before dark the table was set with
+its sausages and spice-cake, and beside each plate a mysterious
+packet--for the tree bore only glittering trifles. And when the girls in
+their pretty scarlet bodices and whitest chemisettes sat down, and the
+mother reverently asked God's blessing on their food, all broke into a
+joyful carol. Then they examined their gifts, and the little stranger
+was given his share of the good things.
+
+But just then Franz arose and brought from behind the tree a curious
+looking box. Tearing off the papers a small but hardy plant was
+revealed, and putting it in the hands of the invalid, Franz pointed to
+its buds and said one word, "Edelweiss."
+
+A cry of joy burst from the boy's lips, and he clasped his treasure as
+if it had been indeed a flower from paradise.
+
+"Edelweiss! Edelweiss!" was all he could utter, but the sweet and
+grateful tone thanked Franz better than a thousand other words could
+have done.
+
+"Why, Franz," they all asked, "where did you get it at this season? It
+does not grow in winter."
+
+"No," said Franz, "I know that it does not, but I have often found it in
+summer, and I just happened to remember plucking some by the roots last
+spring for Father Glueckner up at the convent--he is always gathering
+roots and herbs for the sick, and he has a great curiosity to transplant
+wild-flowers that he may see what they will produce under cultivation.
+See; this plant already has flowers--months too soon. He has several
+others, so he gave me this quite willingly."
+
+While they were talking, the little stranger had drawn a small case of
+birch-bark from his pocket, and was earnestly comparing the faded and
+pressed flower it contained with the blooming one beside him. His face
+glowed with happiness, and from that moment his restoration to health
+began.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+
+Again the summer-time had come, with all its warmth and beauty. The
+fairies were thronging all the wildwood one lovely summer evening, when
+a tall, handsome lad, with light, quick tread and merry glancing eyes,
+entered the woods, followed by a red fox, and boldly shouted, "Florella!
+Florella!" making the woods ring with his voice.
+
+You would not have supposed that this could be the same boy whose
+sobbing aroused Florella's compassion--the poor, trembling little
+creature, spiritless and unhappy, who had hardly dared to say his name
+was Florio. But so it was; and when he called so loudly in his cheery
+voice, Florella quickly came forth from the sweet-brier bush and stood
+before him.
+
+Doffing the cap which covered his curly pate, and bending on one knee,
+Florio presented without words the small plant which he had guarded with
+the utmost care.
+
+A look of gracious sweetness came into the fairy's face, and she
+examined the flowers with the eye of one accustomed to look at things
+closely. Having assured herself that it was the desired plant, she
+turned to her assistants and invited them to examine it also. All agreed
+that it was the far-famed Edelweiss, and there was a great fluttering of
+wings, and soft exclamations of delight and excited surprise, until
+Florella, with a gentle wave of her hand, commanded silence.
+
+"Now, young knight of our fair domain," she said, addressing Florio,
+"give me some account of your journeying, for not only have you done all
+that I desired, but more: here are not only seeds, but flowers and root.
+I pray you be seated while I listen."
+
+Florio had learned to be mannerly, so with cap in hand he only leaned
+against a beech-tree, and began:
+
+"When you bade me depart with that dreadful old Fuss, dear lady, my
+heart failed me entirely, and I thought I should not be able to do your
+bidding. So long had I been used to her cruel power that the thought of
+opposing her filled me with alarm; but curiously enough the very night I
+hastened from you to the miserable cavern we called home, a young fox
+followed me, and unknown to me slept by my side. When I awoke the witch
+was preparing for her journey, for on her back and by her side she
+carried bags of all shapes and sizes, with everything in them that could
+do mischief. In one was snuff, in another was pepper, and in a third was
+mustard, and in all were flinty pebbles and bits of glass. Some of
+these were for people's eyes and some for their feet, and she had hardly
+room for the mouldly old crusts and pieces of cheese which furnished us
+with food.
+
+"As soon as she saw the fox, which I was petting with delight, she made
+a pass at it with her stick, which I am sure would have killed it had I
+not caught the blow. The little fellow sprang from my arms and bit her
+heel, which made her so very angry that I had to run for my life--but,
+strange to say, after that he was my only protection.
+
+"Although she bade me drown him, and although I, remembering your
+commands, disobeyed her, she did not dare come near me when I had him in
+my arms. Day after day he followed me, night after night he slept beside
+me, and though I had fewer beatings, old Fuss watched me closely; she
+seemed to know that I wanted to get away from her.
+
+"We toiled along on the roadsides, begging from house to house.
+
+"At last one day we came to a beautiful sheet of water, blue and
+sparkling in the sunshine. Everywhere I went I had gathered
+flowers--sometimes they were only weeds, such as dandelions and
+daisies, but here on the banks of this lovely lake I found the sweetest
+blossoms. From every one I had tried to learn the names of the plants,
+but it was a very difficult matter, for half the time they misunderstood
+my signs, and supposed I was only making game of them; besides, when
+Fuss came up with her horrible jargon, every one was so disgusted that
+he would have nothing to do with me.
+
+"But every day I repeated as a lesson the one word 'Edelweiss,' and
+whenever I had the chance I would say this to a stranger. Generally they
+took no notice--sometimes they would smile, and point to the
+mountain-peaks before us.
+
+"The day we reached the lake Fuss was in one of her ugliest moods: she
+had not received a penny from any passer-by, and she had not been able
+to make a young boatman quarrel with his companions, although she had
+sprinkled pepper about until they were all sneezing as if they were
+crazy. I was weary and disconsolate, sitting paddling in the water, and
+the fox was not by me, having run after a rat that had crawled from the
+wreck of an old unused craft. Without a word of warning Fuss came up
+behind me and gave me a push.
+
+"Over I went into the water, head and heels both submerged. Strangling,
+puffing, battling for my life, I rose to the surface. I had fallen just
+where the water was shallow, but where grasses and water-plants so
+entangled my feet that I could not swim, and should certainly have been
+drowned had not one of the boatmen thrown me a rope and drawn me to the
+shore.
+
+"'Hang her!' 'Drown her for an old witch!' were the exclamations I heard
+from the rough by-standers, and also, 'Take her to the jail at Geneva.'
+This aroused me. Now I knew the name of the fine town towards which so
+many were wending their way.
+
+  "'When you get to Geneva,
+  Then you must leave her.'
+
+"Oh, joy! Then I need no longer follow my dreadful guide! And there were
+people about who spoke English.
+
+"As soon as I could discover who these English people were I made
+inquiries of them, and found they were servants of some persons
+travelling in their own conveyance. Tattered and draggled and wet, I
+dared not do more than run after the carriage at a respectful distance,
+with my fox in my arms, and so fearful was I of being overtaken by old
+Fuss that I darted into the woods whenever a wayfarer approached. But my
+fears were needless, for so alarmed had the witch been at the threats of
+the boatmen that she disappeared suddenly. Some said they saw her flying
+over the woods on a broomstick, with all her wretched rags and tags
+fluttering behind her like the tail of a kite.
+
+"After this I toiled on, often hungry, always weary, but frequently
+meeting with kindness. I only wanted to find some place of shelter from
+the cold until the warm weather should return again, and I could renew
+my search for your flower.
+
+"At last, one bitter day, striving to reach a convent where I had found
+out they received poor people like myself, I fell, during a blinding
+storm, and had neither the courage nor the wish to make the effort to
+rise. Gradually a heavy sleep came on. I forgot my woes, and dreamed of
+a garden of roses, among which floated brilliant butterflies and golden
+bees.
+
+"I was aroused from this sleep by a barking and scratching, and the
+forcing open of my mouth to make me swallow some warm milk. A goatherd
+had found me, and putting me on the back of his great dog, carried me
+home. From that moment my troubles ended. Franz, the boy who found me,
+had a warm heart. His home became mine. I was ill, but all did what they
+could to make my sufferings less. I had only the one word, 'Edelweiss,'
+at my command, and but the one hope--that of procuring the flower.
+
+"Christmas-day came. All were rejoicing, all were happy; but none could
+appreciate my joy when the noble Franz put this plant in my possession,
+his Christmas gift to me. I recovered immediately, and happiness so
+inspired me that I learned their language, and was enabled to tell them
+my story. All agreed that I must return to you, but must wait till I was
+strong for the journey. While with my friends I watched them carve their
+beautiful toys, some of which I have brought you, and learned to do
+their exquisite work myself. I also went often to the convent, and
+learned much from the celebrated Father Glueckner about herbs and
+flowers. See; I have brought these packets of seeds, and a good
+collection of remarkable specimens. And all the time my little fox has
+been my pet, my companion, my solace. Accept, then, dear lady, these
+proofs of my obedience."
+
+So saying, Florio finished speaking. As he stopped, his cheeks flushed
+with pleasant emotion, a nightingale poured forth a warbling stream of
+melody. The fairy drew her band around her and thus spoke:
+
+"Happy mortal, thus to have achieved success. Your faithfulness and
+courage shall be well rewarded. Look! this is your home, this we have
+prepared for you. Our emissary, the young fox, had warned us of your
+approach, and we have all in readiness."
+
+Saying this, she led the astonished Florio to a cottage of twisted vines
+and roots, built by herself and her attendant elves. The walls were
+brilliant with innumerable glow-worms and fireflies, which sparkled like
+living gems; the floor was soft with scented rushes. Garlands of roses
+festooned the rooms, in one of which was a table filled with fruit.
+Smiling with glee, Florella watched her young friend's admiration, which
+ended in complete astonishment when from an adjoining apartment came
+Franz and Rosa, the goatherd and his sister. His joy was now complete,
+but when he turned to thank Florella she was nowhere to be seen.
+
+Thus it came to pass that we know of the famous gardener and seedsman
+Florio, whose plants are of boundless celebrity, and whose cultivated
+blossoms outrival the famous exotics of the world. In this forest he
+lived, and raised from season to season every flower that grows. No
+frost seemed to touch them, no drought withered them, for Florella was
+true to her promise of reward, and in addition to giving Florio a home,
+gave him also health and wealth and fame.
+
+The elves were always on guard against moles and injurious worms, the
+fairies sprinkled the seeds and protected the young buds, and basking in
+the sunshine outside the cottage door was always to be found Florio's
+pet, the red fox, whom Florella for a time had chosen to be his
+guardian. Franz and Rosa also induced their family to leave the Alpine
+snows for the beautiful land of flowers.
+
+
+
+
+BOREAS BLUSTER'S CHRISTMAS PRESENT
+
+"'_Tis an ill wind that blows no good_."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+
+It had been a hard, cold, cruel winter, and one that just suited old
+Frozen Nose, the Storm King, whose palace of ice was on the north shore
+of the Polar Sea. He had ordered Rain, Hail, and Snow, his slaves, to
+accompany Lord Boreas Bluster on an invasion of the temperate zone, and
+when they had done his bidding he harnessed up his four-in-hand team of
+polar bears and went as far south as he dared, just to see how well they
+had obeyed him. How he roared with laughter when he found nearly all
+vegetation killed, and the earth wrapped in a white mantle as thick as
+his own bear-skins piled six feet deep! There was no nonsense about that
+sort of work.
+
+"Catch any pert, saucy little flowers sticking up their heads through
+such a blanket!" said Frozen Nose to himself. "No, no; I've fixed 'em
+for a few years, anyhow. They're dead as door-nails, and Spring with all
+her airs and graces will never bring them to life again. Ugh! how I hate
+'em and all sweet smells! Wish I might never have anything but whale-oil
+on my hair and handkerchiefs for the rest of my life!"
+
+"There's no fear but what you will, and stale at that," said the ugliest
+of his children, young Chilblain, giving his father's big toe a tweak as
+he passed, and grinning when he heard Frozen Nose grumble out,
+
+"There's the gout again, I do believe!"
+
+But Boreas Bluster, coming in just then, saw what was going on, and gave
+Chilblain a whack that sent him spinning out of the room.
+
+To tell the truth, Boreas was not as hardhearted as he looked. He was
+the most honest and straightforward of all Frozen Nose's friends. To be
+sure, he had to obey stern commands, and do many things that required a
+show of fierceness, but in the course of his travels he often yielded to
+a kind impulse, and restrained his fury when to indulge it would have
+pleased old Frozen Nose mightily.
+
+This very day he had met with a strange adventure, which had been the
+occasion of a hasty return to the palace, and had so stirred his heart
+that the whack he gave young Chilblain was but the safety-valve to his
+feelings--a sort of letting off of steam which otherwise might have
+exploded and burst every block of ice in the realm.
+
+In the many furious storms which had occurred of late Boreas had seen
+the destruction of numerous forests, and had even assisted in laying
+waste the country. But one night an avalanche had buried a hamlet from
+which only one living soul had escaped, and that was a young child--a
+mere sprig of a girl, with hair like the flax and eyes like its flowers,
+a little, timid, crying child--whom B.B. had actually taken in his arms
+and carried all the way out of the woods, over the mountains, and
+finally into Frozen Nose's own palace by the Polar Sea.
+
+Never had such a thing happened before. Never had the tones of a child's
+voice pierced his dull ears, and made that big sledge-hammer of a heart
+positively ache with its throbs. It was a new and even a dangerous
+feeling; for though he made young Chilblain's impertinence the pretext
+of an outburst, he might just as readily have given a cuff to the
+hoary-headed Prime-minister, Sir Solomon Snow-Ball--and then there would
+have been a revolution. But happily for the peace of the Polar Sea
+palace, B.B. was satisfied with Chilblain's howl of rage, and in another
+moment had sunk down into his favorite arm-chair of twisted walrus
+tusks, and was lost in thought.
+
+It was a curious scene, these three old men half asleep in their
+bear-skins, smoking long pipes of smouldering sea-weed. No fire danced
+on the hearth, no lamp shed its lustre, but the moon's pale beams
+gleamed on the glittering walls and lit the ice-crystals with its silver
+rays. B.B.'s thoughts seemed to be of a troublesome nature, for he
+sighed heavily, almost creating a whirlwind, and at last, looking
+cautiously at his companions, and seeing they were asleep, he rose and
+went softly from the room. In the hall was a huge pile of furs, among
+which B.B. gently pushed until he found the object of his search, which,
+lifting carefully, he bound about him with thongs of reindeer hide. Then
+pulling on his immense snow-shoes, and drawing his cap closely about
+his ears, he went out into the night.
+
+B.B. was aware that it would be impossible for him to keep his little
+Flax-Flower any longer in Frozen Nose's dominions; indeed, he had only
+hidden her in the hall until he could decide what course to pursue, for
+he knew only too well that Chilblain, in seeking revenge, would be sure
+to discover his secret, and do all he could to injure him. Personally he
+had little to fear, but the punishment for mortals entering Frozen
+Nose's realm was death, and Flax-Flower was mortal.
+
+With the speed for which he was so celebrated, Boreas slid over the
+ground in a southerly direction, never stopping until he had come upon
+what seemed to be a river which led down to a dark forest of pine-trees.
+
+He was now at least three thousand miles from the Storm King's palace,
+and could afford to rest Wiping his brow, and panting still with his
+recent efforts, Boreas drew a corner of the bundle of furs away from the
+face of Flax-Flower, and looked at the sleeping child. As he did so a
+thrill of tenderness made him long to kiss her, but he knew that his
+rough caress would chill her with fear. So, softly wrapping her up
+again, he plunged into the pine forest. Stopping again when in the
+middle of it, he gave a shrill whistle, which was responded to by one
+fainter and farther away, and presently a dwarf in the garb of an
+Esquimau emerged from the dusky gloom, and bending low, said,
+
+"What will you, my master?"
+
+"I would see thy lord, the good St. Nicholas--the Storm King's enemy. Is
+he at home?"
+
+"He is at home, but he is no man's enemy. What message shall I bear
+him?"
+
+"Tell him that Boreas, of the Frozen Noses, awaits him." The dwarf
+vanished, and returned.
+
+"My lord bids thee enter, but entreats thee to be gentle, and remember
+the manners of his court."
+
+"That was a needless charge, considering my errand. Never has my mood
+been more peaceful. But it strikes me as passing strange thus to dictate
+terms to one of my station," responded Boreas, proudly.
+
+"Pardon," answered the dwarf, "but we are no sticklers for ceremony, and
+recognize no rank save goodness. Follow me if it be thy wish to enter."
+
+Pushing aside the heavy boughs on which the snow lay in icy masses that
+rattled and clashed like bolts and bars, he uncovered a low-arched
+opening into what seemed a vast snow-bank. Through this tunnel he and
+Boreas made their way to a broad court, which was as airy as a
+soap-bubble, round in shape, with pillars and dome of glass, through
+which streamed rays of light softer than sunshine and brighter than
+moonbeams.
+
+From this court a broad, low stairway led to another apartment, which
+was as free from any show or splendor as the kitchen of a farm-house,
+and, indeed, in its suggestion of homely comfort and hospitality it was
+not unlike that cheery place. A Saxon motto, meaning "Welcome to those
+who hunger," was carved in the wooden frame of the fireplace. The floor
+was sanded, the tables and chairs were of oak, blackened by age, as were
+also the timbers of the ceiling, and cut and carved with curious
+devices.
+
+On a big settle by the fire sat an old man, whose twinkling eyes could
+but just see through the shaggy and snowy brows which overhung them,
+and whose white beard fell in a flowing mass upon his breast. What could
+be seen of his face bore a kind expression.
+
+"Ho, ho, old Bluster!" he cried, in a clear and merry voice, drawing up
+and around him the sheepskin mantle which was beside him, "what new
+freak is this of yours to enter our peaceful dwelling? Methought you
+were so sworn to do the Storm King's bidding that no power other than
+his rough sway could compel your presence. Come you on your own account
+or on his? Be it either, you are free to partake of our bounty. Ho,
+there, Merrythought! heave on more logs and heat the poker, that we may
+thrust it fizzing into our tankards: 'tis always bitter cold when Boreas
+is abroad."
+
+The dwarf skipped quickly to his task, assisted by a dozen others, and
+Boreas, unstrapping his bundle, drew little Flax-Flower, still sleeping,
+from the furs.
+
+"Mine is a strange errand, good Claus--so strange, that I hardly know
+myself to be myself. Rough and stormy as I am ever, a child's misery has
+made me once gentle. You know my mad career, my furious passions, and
+that they indeed are the strength of the Storm King's realm. Too well I
+knew that I should be but the sport of mocking derision if I appealed to
+his mercy in behalf of this suffering child. Mercy, did I say? He knows
+none. Death alone could have met this little creature, whose cries have
+aroused within me the deepest feelings I have ever known. To be honest,
+I have not always been the fierce being I appear. Many and many a time,
+unknown to you, I have followed you on your errands of love and pity,
+and watched with admiration the course you have pursued. This has
+induced me now to come and ask your favor for my treasure. Wake, little
+Flax-Flower, wake!" he continued, gently kissing the child's eyes, who,
+so stirred, rubbed her sleepy lids with rosy little fists, and looked
+around in astonishment.
+
+"Ha!" said the good St. Nicholas; "this is indeed a strange story for
+you to tell, friend Bluster. Ho, there, Merrythought! send for Mrs.
+Christmas, my house-keeper. The child may be frightened at our grim
+faces. But what a pretty little dear it is!" said Claus, in the kindest
+tones, putting out his big fat hand to caress her. To Boreas's surprise
+Flax-Flower did not shrink from his salute, but with a bright smile
+bounded into the old man's arms and kissed him.
+
+Turning away with a pang of jealousy, Boreas muttered, "She wouldn't
+kiss _me_; but no matter. That settles it. She's in the right place, and
+I'll leave her. Farewell, Claus; I'm off. No, no; I've no time for
+eating and drinking. Frozen Nose will be thundering at my absence
+already. There's a storm brewing even now; I feel it in my bones." So
+saying, he tramped noisily out of the apartment, nearly knocking over a
+fleshy dame in ruffled cap and whitest apron, whose rosy cheeks were
+like winter apples, and who bore in her hands a huge mince-pie in which
+was stuck a sprig of mistletoe.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+
+"Come mother, cease thy spinning, and look at the lovely tree that Olaf
+has brought thee; it stands as straight as himself in the best room.
+Surely thou wilt deck it to please him."
+
+"Ah, Fritz! how can I?" said the forester's wife, rising from her wheel,
+with a sad but sweet smile, in obedience to her husbands wishes.
+
+"But there is surely no reason for longer indulging thy grief. Our
+child is too happy in heaven to wish her return to earth, and whatever
+the good God sends of pleasure or innocent mirth we should take with
+thankfulness. Look at the tree; it is the very image of Olaf's own
+strong youth. Make it pretty to-night, and he will be glad. A good
+friend is he for two lonely beings like us to possess."
+
+"You are right, Fritz," said the wife, wiping a tear from her eyes. "For
+Olaf's sake I will dress the tree and bake a cake." So saying, she
+tidied up her best parlor, and took from a brass-bound chest the gay
+ribbons and trinkets which had not been used since the Christmas eve her
+little one last spent on earth.
+
+Very lonely and sad would these two people have been but for Olaf, the
+son of their nearest neighbor. It was he whose clear ringing voice might
+be heard in the forest when returning from his work, and Fritz said that
+it made labor light but to hear him. It was he, too, who, when Fritz had
+been lamed by the fall of a tree, had borne him home on his strong young
+shoulders; so it was no wonder that the good wife was grateful to him.
+Often at evening he made their fireside bright with his songs and merry
+stories, and now it was but just that they should shake off their sorrow
+for his sake; so the good wife drew out her spotless board, and kneaded
+spice-cakes, and spread her best damask, and set out the fine china.
+
+"Ah, if I had my little one!" murmured the good woman. "But God knows
+best," she quickly added, as she remembered many blessings.
+
+"Here comes Olaf!" shouted Fritz from below. "Come quickly, lest he
+think thee tardy."
+
+"Yes, yes, I come. I see him," was her reply. "But what is that he
+carries--something he has picked up on the way?"
+
+"A Christmas gift for thee," was the merry answer from Olaf's ringing
+voice, as he laid a strange bundle in her arms.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+
+Little Flax-Flower had been with St. Nicholas a whole long week. In that
+time she had been in every nook and corner of his dwelling. She had seen
+all his elves and dwarfs at work manufacturing every known toy to be
+found in the world. She had watched the dolls' dress-makers; she had
+ridden the toy horses; she had blown the brass bugles and beaten the
+drums until Mrs. Christmas had to put cotton in her ears.
+
+Now all this was very delightful, and made Santa Claus laugh long and
+loud. He would not have cared if she had brought the house down on his
+ears, so long as she had a bright smile and a kiss for him. But when
+Boreas Bluster stopped to see how his young ward was getting on, he
+shook his head gravely and told Mrs. Christmas he feared she was
+spoiling Flax-Flower. But Mrs. Christmas laughed just in the same manner
+that Santa Claus had done, and declared that the child must have all she
+wanted.
+
+Unfortunately, Flax-Flower went into the kitchen one day, and finding
+all the cooks busily making sugar-plums, helped herself so largely to
+taffy that she was made very ill; she ate, besides, quite a menagerie of
+lemon-candy elephants, camels, and kangaroos, which disagreed with
+themselves and with her; so that her head ached, and she had to be put
+to bed, with a hot-water bottle and a mustard draught for companions.
+This happened just as Boreas had stopped in to inquire about his pet,
+and he shook his head gravely when Mrs. Christmas related the incident.
+But Santa Claus only laughed till the air seemed full of merriment.
+
+"Ah, my dear Claus, I see you have too easy and gentle a nature to deal
+with wilful little mortals in an every-day way; besides, you have to
+think of so many that it unfits you for the care of a single one," said
+Boreas, in his least gruff manner. "I shall have to find another home
+for Flax-Flower."
+
+"Well," replied St. Nicholas, "I confess I can refuse nothing to a good
+child. Children to me are all like so many empty stockings--made to be
+filled. But I have had some doubts about keeping Flax-Flower. Mrs.
+Christmas and I are afraid it will make the others jealous; it is that,
+and not the stuffing down lollipops, that makes me think you are right.
+Now her feast-day comes soon--I mean Mrs. Christmas's day," said Santa
+Claus, with a nod--"and if you will just give my sleigh a lift, I think
+I can tuck in Flaxie and carry her to some people I know--some people
+who will appreciate her and be kind to her; yes, and even cross in a
+wholesome way, seeing that's what you approve of."
+
+Here Santa pretended to be very gruff himself, but Boreas saw through
+it. He knew that St. Nicholas, on the whole, believed that Flaxie would
+be better off without so much amusement and without so many temptations
+to do nothing but play all day long, and this was the way the matter
+ended.
+
+Just before Christmas day Santa Claus's sleigh was brought out into the
+beautiful court I have described; eight lively young reindeer were
+harnessed to it, and thousands of toys were packed in it; furs were
+wrapped around Flaxie, who was now quite well, and Mrs. Christmas
+herself made up a box of delicacies for her to eat on the way.
+
+"Think of us often, dear child," she whispered, "and give my love to
+_everybody_."
+
+Then the dwarfs gave the sleigh a push from behind, the bells of the
+harness rang out a merry peal, the reindeer pranced, Santa Claus snapped
+his whip, and away they flew, with Boreas behind them on his snow-shoes.
+
+"Now, Flaxie," said Santa Claus, after they had skimmed over the snow
+with lightning speed for hours, "before you go to sleep, as I see you
+are doing, I want to speak to you. I want you always to remember this
+visit to my house with pleasure, and tell all the children you may meet
+how much I love them, how much it pleases me to know that they are good,
+and how it really distresses me when they are not; tell them, too, that
+as long as Mrs. Christmas lives we will do all we can for their
+happiness, and all we ask in return is a grateful spirit. Do you think
+you can remember all this? Well, as you say you can, tell them also to
+hang up an extra stocking, whenever there is room by the chimney, for
+some little waif that hasn't a stocking to hang up for himself. Now go
+to sleep as soon as you please, and may your dreams be sweet!"
+
+Cuddled down in the comfortable furs, Flaxie knew nothing more till she
+found herself awake and in the arms of a tall young fellow whose name
+was Olaf, and who carried her into the brightest, nicest little parlor,
+and set her down in front of a fine Christmas-tree, saying,
+
+"There, Mistress Kindheart, see what Christmas has brought you. I found
+her in the forest, and a great bearded giant told me to bring her to
+you."
+
+"Oh, Olaf, it is my little Lena come back, I do believe!" cried the
+woman, while tears of joy ran down her face.
+
+"Nay, mother, nay," said her husband; "but she shall take our lost one's
+place. Come, little one, tell us who thou art and from whence thou art
+come."
+
+Then Flaxie told the story of her visit to St. Nicholas, while Olaf,
+Fritz, and his wife listened in amazement.
+
+Much as Flax-Flower had enjoyed all she had seen and done, it was
+delightful to be again with people of her own flesh and blood, and learn
+to say the sweet word "Mother."
+
+That Christmas was a merry one, but no merrier than the many which came
+after, for Flax-Flower became a dutiful daughter to the kind people who
+gave her a home. She and Olaf were like sister and brother to each
+other, and they were known throughout all the country-side for their
+kindness to the poor and unfortunate, especially at Christmas-time.
+
+Frozen Nose still reigns in his palace on the Polar Sea, and it is
+mainly owing to him and his wicked son Chilblain that nothing more is
+known of that still unexplored region; but Boreas Bluster spends
+much of his time with good St. Nicholas and Mrs. Christmas. He tires of
+the severity of his life, and likes a snug corner where he can relate
+the story of his finding Flax-Flower, whom he still loves very tenderly.
+Often on an evening he ventures down to take a peep at her in her happy
+home, and little does she suspect that the cooling breeze at the close
+of a warm day is Boreas's gift of thoughtful kindness.
+
+
+
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