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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/15227-8.txt b/15227-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8ecb61c --- /dev/null +++ b/15227-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6031 @@ +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-8859-1 + + +***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 + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 15227-h.htm or 15227-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/2/2/15227/15227-h/15227-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/2/2/15227/15227-h.zip) + + + + + +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 _pâté_, 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 Glückner 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 Glückner 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. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCE LAZYBONES AND OTHER STORIES*** + + +******* This file should be named 15227-8.txt or 15227-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/2/2/15227 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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J. Hays</title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + hr.full { width: 100%; } + pre {font-size: 8pt;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Prince Lazybones and Other Stories, by Mrs. +W. J. Hays</h1> +<pre> +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 <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Prince Lazybones and Other Stories</p> +<p>Author: Mrs. W. J. Hays</p> +<p>Release Date: March 1, 2005 [eBook #15227]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCE LAZYBONES AND OTHER STORIES***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by Curtis Weyant, Charlene Taylor,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team</h4> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="350" height="479" alt="Cover" +title="cover" /></div> +<p> </p> + +<p><a name="frontispiece" id="frontispiece"></a> +<!-- Page 9 --><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a></p> +<div class="center"> +<a href="images/frontispiece.jpg"> +<img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" width="350" border="0" +alt=""GOOD EVENING, MY DEAR PRINCE."" +title=""GOOD EVENING, MY DEAR PRINCE."" /></a><br /> +<b>"GOOD EVENING, MY DEAR PRINCE."</b></div> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h1>THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE LAZYBONES</h1> +<h2>And Other Stories</h2> +<h3>BY</h3> +<h2>MRS. W. J. HAYS</h2> +<h5>AUTHOR OF "PRINCESS IDLEWAYS"</h5> +<h6>ILLUSTRATED <br /> <br />HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS +<br />NEW YORK AND LONDON<br /> <br /> +<!-- Page 10 --><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a> +COPYRIGHT, 1884, BY HARPER & BROTHERS <br /> +PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.</h6> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a> +<!-- Page 11 --><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table> +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#THE_ADVENTURES_OF_PRINCE_LAZY_BONES"><b>THE +ADVENTURES OF PRINCE LAZY BONES</b></a></td></tr> +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#PHILS_FAIRIES"><b>PHIL'S FAIRIES</b></a></td></tr> +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#FLORIO_AND_FLORELLA"><b>FLORIO AND +FLORELLA</b></a></td></tr> +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#BOREAS_BLUSTERS_CHRISTMAS_PRESENT"><b>BOREAS +BLUSTER'S CHRISTMAS PRESENT</b></a></td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<!-- Page 12 --><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a> +<h2><a name="ILLUSTRATIONS" id="ILLUSTRATIONS"></a> +<!-- Page 13 --><a name="Page_13" +id="Page_13"></a>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table> +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#frontispiece">"Good-evening, my dear Prince"</a> (<i>Frontispiece</i>)</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#boat">"Approach of the swanlike boat"</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#eagle">"Look! There's an eagle"</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#sturgeon">"Making the sturgeon useful"</a></td> +</tr> +</table></div> +<!-- Page 14 --><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a> +<!-- Page 15 --><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a> +<!-- Page 16 --><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_ADVENTURES_OF_PRINCE_LAZY_BONES" +id="THE_ADVENTURES_OF_PRINCE_LAZY_BONES"></a> +<!-- Page 17 --><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a>THE ADVENTURES +OF PRINCE LAZY BONES</h2> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER I</h4> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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, +<!-- Page 18 --><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a>watching with +languid gaze the movements of the world about him.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 19 --><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 <i>he</i> 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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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?</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4><!-- Page 20 --><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a>CHAPTER +II</h4> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p><!-- Page 21 --><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 22 --><a name="Page_22" +id="Page_22"></a>foraging expedition as it was for Leo, who liked +to smell the savory stews.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Idle, worthless fellow!" said the cook; "he lolls about as a +spy upon us, to repeat to the master every word he hears."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>But the household was in revolt; the uneasiness from outside had +crept within, and there was quarrelling among the servants.</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 23 --><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a>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!"</p> +<p>"A very dull day indeed, your highness."</p> +<p>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,</p> +<p>"I think I could amuse you."</p> +<p>"And pray who are you?" asked Leo, feeling very queer, and as if +he were talking to himself.</p> +<p><!-- Page 24 --><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a>"That is of +little consequence, so long as I do what I have proposed," was the +reply.</p> +<p>"Very true," said Leo; "but I never before heard of a ghost in +the daytime."</p> +<p>"I am no ghost, your highness; I'd scorn to be such a useless +thing."</p> +<p>"What are you, then, and where are you?"</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"Not quite, to be sure; the birds and beasts have their share. +But one can see them."</p> +<p>"So could you see me if your vision were not imperfect. How +about all the living things you swallow every time you drink?"</p> +<p>"I have heard of something of the kind, but it was too much +trouble to understand it."</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 25 --><a name="Page_25" +id="Page_25"></a>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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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:</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>Leo was quite ashamed to be so ignorant, but he ventured to +ask,</p> +<p>"What is the S.P.C.C.?"</p> +<p>"Is it possible you have never heard of it?"</p> +<p><!-- Page 26 --><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a>"Never," +replied Leo, still feeling as if he were talking to the walls.</p> +<p>There was a queer little gurgling "Ha! ha!" which was at once +suppressed.</p> +<p>"Well, how could you know away off in this remote region?"</p> +<p>"I am sure I don't understand you at all," said Leo.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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:</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 27 --><a name="Page_27" +id="Page_27"></a>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 <i>so</i> vain."</p> +<p>"Indeed!" said Leo, lazily; he was already tired of the whole +matter.</p> +<p>"Yes, vain and pretentious. Look at your father and his poems; +he thinks his doggerel verses a mark of genius."</p> +<p>"What has my father done to you that you attack him so rudely?" +asked Leo, angrily.</p> +<p>"Ah! you are aroused at last. I am glad. What has your father +<i>not</i> 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?"</p> +<p>"Don't know, and don't care," came out with characteristic +Lazybones indifference.</p> +<p>"Ah! my dear Prince, do not speak so; it is quite time you knew +and cared. Do you study geography?"</p> +<p><!-- Page 28 --><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a>"Sometimes."</p> +<p>"All surface work, I suppose?"</p> +<p>"Probably."</p> +<p>"Now my plan of study comprehends an interior view of the +earth's formation."</p> +<p>Leo gave a tremendous yawn, and said,</p> +<p>"Oh, please don't bother any more; I am awfully tired."</p> +<p>"So I should think. Well, do you want to be amused?"</p> +<p>"No; I don't want anything."</p> +<p>"Come with me, then."</p> +<p>"Where?"</p> +<p>"No matter where; just do as I bid you."</p> +<p>"How can I, when I don't even see you?"</p> +<p>"True. It will be necessary to anoint your eyes; shall I do +it?"</p> +<p>"Just as you please."</p> +<p>Leo felt a little pressure forcing down his eyelids, and the +pouring of a drop of cool liquid on each.</p> +<p>When he opened his eyes again there stood before him the +quaintest, queerest being he had ever beheld.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4><!-- Page 29 --><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a>CHAPTER +III</h4> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 30 --><a name="Page_30" +id="Page_30"></a>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:</p> +<p>"And now let us go; I lead—you follow."</p> +<p>"Forward, then," responded Leo, rising from his lounging +attitude.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Are you going down cellar?" asked Leo, who knew where the +stairs led.</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"Perhaps so," said Leo, following, and doing as requested.</p> +<p>They went down step after step, and it was wonderful how much +light came from that little blue flame.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p><!-- Page 31 --><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a>"Suppose we +meet some one," said Leo.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>Knops turned with a smile when he saw Leo's agitation, and said, +blandly,</p> +<p>"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. +<!-- Page 32 --><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a>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!"</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 33 --><a name="Page_33" +id="Page_33"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>On its floor was burning an immense bonfire, which flashed and +flamed, and around which was a bevy of dwarfs, shovelling on fuel +from <!-- Page 34 --><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 35 --><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Punishment?" repeated Leo, questioningly.</p> +<p>"Oh yes; most of our hardest workers are elves of mischief and +it is only by keeping them thus constantly employed that we prevent +<!-- Page 36 --><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a>disorder. You +have no idea what pranks they play."</p> +<p>"And what is your authority among them?" asked Leo.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"How do you do this?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>So saying, Knops turned down a little lane +<!-- Page 37 --><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a>lighted by what +looked like small globes of white fire.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER IV</h4> +<p>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 <!-- Page 38 --><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a>for +their bodies, so that they resembled nothing so much as +spiders.</p> +<p>"See how in the pursuit of the beautiful one can lose all +beauty," said Knops, confidentially.</p> +<p>"How hot it is here!" said Leo, gasping for breath.</p> +<p>"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—"</p> +<p>"Oh, get me out of this!" entreated Leo.</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"Yes," said Leo, reviving, as he took a long draught of fresh +cool air. "How do your people endure such heat?"</p> +<p>"They are used to it; besides, they can come to these little +tubes, as you have done, whenever they please."</p> +<p>"Where does this air come from?"</p> +<p><!-- Page 39 --><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a>"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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"I have lost it—lost it, Master Knops."</p> +<p>"Lost what, Paz?"</p> +<p>"The finest stone I ever made, and I have been years at it."</p> +<p>"How did that happen?"</p> +<p>"Burned it too long—look!" and he produced in his spidery +hand a small mass of charcoal.</p> +<p>"Never mind, Paz; better luck next time," said Knops, +kindly.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"You are depressed just now; wait awhile."</p> +<p><!-- Page 40 --><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a>"No, I must +go. I have broken my crucible and put out my furnace. I will not +stay to be scorned."</p> +<p>"Come with me, then, and I will see what I can do for you."</p> +<p>"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!"</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 41 --><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a>beauty and +value. These processes are not unknown to man, but men are so +clumsy that they seldom succeed in perfecting them."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"What's the matter now?" asked Leo, too tired to regain it, +easily as he could have done so.</p> +<p>"I can't see anybody eat such wretched stuff as that; wait till +I cook it," said Paz.</p> +<p>"Well, Paz, I am glad you can help me out of my difficulty," +said Knops. "I really am <!-- Page 42 --><a name="Page_42" +id="Page_42"></a>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?"</p> +<p>"Not long, I fear."</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"An elf who can make diamonds from charcoal can perhaps produce +beefsteak from a turnip," said Leo.</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"Immensely."</p> +<p>"And roast quail?"</p> +<p>"Delicious!"</p> +<p>"Apple tart?"</p> +<p>"Nothing better."</p> +<p>"Adieu, then, for an hour."</p> +<p><!-- Page 43 --><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>One old woman, who had never known any other home, alone +remained, and when the storm <!-- Page 44 --><a name="Page_44" +id="Page_44"></a>subsided and the house was quiet, Morpheus, being +hungry, crawled down to the kitchen fire to find her boiling +porridge.</p> +<p>"Where is my son?" asked Morpheus.</p> +<p>The old woman was deaf, and only muttered, "Gone—all +gone."</p> +<p>"Alas! and has my son also deserted his father?" cried +Morpheus.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>When he sat down to study he found himself in a more cheerful +mood than he had been in <!-- Page 45 --><a name="Page_45" +id="Page_45"></a>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:</p> +<p><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">"My boy has fled his father's +home,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">No more he treads these +halls;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">In vain my voice invokes his +name,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">In vain my tears, my +calls.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">The night winds sigh, the owlets +cry,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">The moon's pale light +appears,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">The stars are shivering in the +sky—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">I tremble at my +fears.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Has then the Knight of Shadowy +Dread</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">My Leo forced away</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">From his fond parent's loving +heart</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">In Death's grim halls +astray?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">I bow reluctant to my +fate;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">'Tis mine to weep and mine to +wait!"</span></p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>The old woman had slumbered all the evening in her chair. Indeed +her snoring had been <!-- Page 46 --><a name="Page_46" +id="Page_46"></a>even and regular enough to act as a measure in +marking the time for the musical cadences of the sonnet.</p> +<p>Morpheus, having a pretty good appetite, ate some bread and +cheese and drank some ale before retiring.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER V</h4> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 47 --><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a>please you. If +you come with me now I think you may relish your meal."</p> +<p>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 +<i>pâté</i>, 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 <!-- Page 48 --><a name="Page_48" +id="Page_48"></a>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.</p> +<p>"Are you rested?" he inquired, kindly.</p> +<p>"Oh yes, very much, and I must thank you and Paz for so good a +dinner," responded Leo.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Never."</p> +<p>"but I suppose you know why they are thought so great a +delicacy?"</p> +<p>"No."</p> +<p>"It is merely the gluten with which they are fastened together, +so to speak, by the birds, which renders them agreeable. The +Chinese <!-- Page 49 --><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a>like +rats, and in this we agree with them. Well dressed, stuffed with +chestnuts or olives, and roasted, they are delicious."</p> +<p>Leo made a wry face.</p> +<p>"Ah! you are not cosmopolitan."</p> +<p>"What is that?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"But rats are not good; they are vermin."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>Leo could not disguise his dislike, so Knops, shrugging his +shoulders, did not attempt any longer to convince him, but +said,</p> +<p>"Are you interested in what I have shown you?"</p> +<p>"Certainly I am," said Leo, with more spirit than he had ever +put into words.</p> +<p>"And you care to go on?"</p> +<p>"Very much."</p> +<p>"Prepare then for great exertion. As you are so large it will be +necessary for you to creep <!-- Page 50 --><a name="Page_50" +id="Page_50"></a>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."</p> +<p>Leo's attention had flagged during this speech—he was so +unaccustomed to many words—now his interest revived.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 51 --><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a>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."</p> +<p>"Well," said Knops, "We have the supplying of that spring."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 52 --><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a>heard wheezing +and groaning sounds, which, though not frightful, were very +peculiar, and then the thump-thump, as of engines.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4><!-- Page 53 --><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a>CHAPTER +VI</h4> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 54 --><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a>tributary +brooks, so small that they would hardly have floated a good-sized +leaf.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Do fish ever clog your pipes?" asked Leo.</p> +<p>"Never. We have none in our lakes; the +<!-- Page 55 --><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a>water is too +pure and free from vegetable matter for fish. It is doubly +distilled. Taste it."</p> +<p>Leo took the glass which Knops offered, and confessed he had +never tasted anything more delicious.</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"Not much, Master Knops. I have seen iron in various forms +introduced, but think that is usually controlled by the earth's +formation."</p> +<p>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?"</p> +<p>"Delightful. Where? Surely not in the lake; it looks so cold and +glassy I should not dare."</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p><!-- Page 56 --><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a>"I should +think so," said Leo, surveying quite a spacious apartment, about +which were pipes and faucets, clothes-lines and screens.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>Laughing heartily at their antics, he rejoined Knops and Paz, +whom he found poring over some maps spread out before them.</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 57 --><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a>either +would require too much time. Was your bath agreeable?"</p> +<p>"Very," said Leo, describing how he had been pummelled.</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"That is all it will be, I promise you," said Paz; "The heat is +awful."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Oh," said Leo, as he quickly turned from his place, "how do +they endure it? It is dreadful!"</p> +<p>"They are used to it; they all came from +<!-- Page 58 --><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a>Terra del +Fuego," replied Knops, calmly. "And now, as a contrast to them, +look in here."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>Leo was so delighted that, although shivering, he could not bear +to leave them, but begged Knops to lend him a wrap.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 59 --><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a>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."</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 60 --><a name="Page_60" +id="Page_60"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER VII</h4> +<p>Knops now led Leo through so many places full of machines and +contrivances which the water-power kept active that he was +<!-- Page 61 --><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a>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.</p> +<p>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?"</p> +<p>"Oh yes," said Knops, smiling; "but they are not to be found +near our workshops."</p> +<p>"Where, then, do they live?"</p> +<p>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."</p> +<p>"And do they all work as you do?"</p> +<p><!-- Page 62 --><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a>"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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p><!-- Page 63 --><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a>"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.</p> +<p>"One whiff of this, as it burns in my pipe, and I can wish +myself where I please."</p> +<p>"Let me have a try," said Leo, taking up the pipe.</p> +<p>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?"</p> +<p>"Yes," said Leo, listlessly, disappointed that he could not go +to the ends of the earth by magic.</p> +<p>Paz noticed the disappointment, and said, by way of diversion, +"Where do you like best to be?"</p> +<p>"At home I like the kitchen," said Leo, with a little shrug.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>Paz trotted down a winding staircase that +<!-- Page 64 --><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 65 --><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"How do you kill your game?" asked Leo.</p> +<p><!-- Page 66 --><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a>"We trap +everything, and then have a mode of killing the creatures which is +entirely painless."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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, +<!-- Page 67 --><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a>yells, and yet +no answer came; nothing but echoes responded.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER VIII</h4> +<p>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.</p> +<p>Soft as the sighing of the wind was this elfin music, but +swelling into mimic bursts of harmony and clashing of small +cymbals.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 68 --><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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; +<!-- Page 69 --><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>And now to Leo's almost overtaxed vision +<!-- Page 70 --><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a>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.</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 71 --><a name="Page_71" +id="Page_71"></a>bend and bow to each other, or to warm themselves +at bonfires blazing on the banks.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 72 --><a name="Page_72" +id="Page_72"></a>lasted but a few moments, and again all was still +and dark, and Leo was alone.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Did you suppose that we had deserted you?" asked Knops, sitting +down by his side on the couch as if exhausted.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 73 --><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a>Vision of Labor, +for such I call our two pantomimes. Am I wrong in supposing that +they have pleased you?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir; the Prince Leo's kindness of heart is the secret of +his power with us."</p> +<p>Leo blushed as he looked up and asked, "How did you know I was +soft-hearted?"</p> +<p>"By your kindness to animals and all living things. Ah! we are +close observers, are we not, Paz?"</p> +<p>"Necessarily, Master Professor."</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 74 --><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a>only apply +yourself. Has anything you have seen made you anxious to know +more?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER IX</h4> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 75 --><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a>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.</p> +<p>"Hallo!" said Leo, "can't you go to sleep either?"</p> +<p>"No need at present."</p> +<p>"Why not?"</p> +<p>"I was going through a formula in D."</p> +<p>"What under the sun is that?"</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"Splendid! I'm ready when you are."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p><!-- Page 76 --><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a>"All right," +said Leo, inwardly cringing at the thought of stuffed rats.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>When Leo had done ample justice to all these things Paz looked +relieved, as if he had feared they might not suit.</p> +<p>"Never ate anything better in my life," said Leo.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Oh dear!" said Leo, wondering how their freshness was +preserved.</p> +<p>"Yes, I suppose you have no idea of our canning business."</p> +<p>"None in the world."</p> +<p><!-- Page 77 --><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a>"I presumed +as much," said Paz, wisely, "Nor am I going to bore you with any +more information."</p> +<p>Leo looked quite shocked.</p> +<p>"Oh, well," said Paz, profoundly, "There's a limit to all +things, and I'm not a Knops."</p> +<p>"But have you been to all parts of the world?" asked Leo.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Indeed!" said Leo, having but a faint idea of what an envoy +was. "What did you do?"</p> +<p>"I went on errands of importance."</p> +<p>"Who for, and where did you go?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"How kind!" said Leo.</p> +<p><!-- Page 78 --><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a>"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</p> +<p>PAZ'S STORY</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"In their little vineyard one day our King's son, an infant, was +swinging in his leafy cradle; <!-- Page 79 --><a name="Page_79" +id="Page_79"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 80 --><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 81 --><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"'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.'</p> +<p>"'Yes, madame,' said Tessa. 'But what is the matter? You and +every one look so anxious.'</p> +<p>"Instantly, as she spoke, there was a terrible +<!-- Page 82 --><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a>quivering of the +earth, which made every one shudder. The driver could scarcely hold +his horses; they plunged and reared and trembled.</p> +<p>"'Ah! we cannot wait,' said the lady; but seeing the terrified +looks of the children, she paused to ask, 'Are you children +alone?'</p> +<p>"'Entirely so, signorina.'</p> +<p>"'And where are you going?'</p> +<p>"'Home, to the mountain.'</p> +<p>"'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.</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 83 --><a name="Page_83" +id="Page_83"></a>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."</p> +<p>Paz stopped; but Leo was unsatisfied.</p> +<p>"And what became of them? Did they ever go home again? Were +their father and mother killed?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Trade in lava?" repeated Leo, inquisitively.</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 84 --><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a>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."</p> +<p>"How curious!"</p> +<p>"No; they were not remarkable, not half as singular as coral +formations."</p> +<p>"What are they?"</p> +<p>"Don't tell me you know nothing of coral!"</p> +<p>"I believe I have seen it, but that is all."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER X</h4> +<p>"Well," said Leo, "you are not going to stop, I hope."</p> +<p>"Oh no," said Paz, cheerfully, "I can spin yarns with any +sailor. What will you have now?"</p> +<p>"Something funny."</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 85 --><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a>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."</p> +<p>"How did you get out of your scrape?"</p> +<p>"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!"</p> +<p>"Do you ever have anything to do with witches?"</p> +<p>"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—"</p> +<p>"Such as what?"</p> +<p><!-- Page 86 --><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a>"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."</p> +<p>PAZ'S SECOND STORY</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 87 --><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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. <!-- Page 88 --><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a>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."</p> +<p>Here Paz stopped, shook his head, smiled, and said, "I do +believe I am as bad as Knops."</p> +<p>"Please go on," said Leo.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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.'</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 89 --><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a>neck. The veil, +in a satin case half an inch square, was in my wallet.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 90 --><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Quite so," said Leo. "but I am crazy to know who was following +you."</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 91 --><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a>waited for my +unknown companion to overtake me.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"I will not dwell on these particulars. I had overcome my enemy. +I resumed my journey, <!-- Page 92 --><a name="Page_92" +id="Page_92"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 93 --><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a>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.</p> +<p>"But it was now time for me to get on <i>terra firma,</i> 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.</p> +<p>"Instantly it lost all power over its members, curled up in a +writhing, wriggling mass, and I with a bound reached the sandy +shore."</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4><!-- Page 94 --><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a>CHAPTER +XI</h4> +<p>Paz, taking a long breath, and looking at Leo to see the effect +of his narrative, went on:</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 95 --><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 96 --><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"'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.'</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 97 --><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a>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."</p> +<p>"And is that all?" inquired Leo.</p> +<p>"Yes," said Paz, "for here comes Master Knops."</p> +<p>Leo thanked Paz warmly, and turned towards Knops, who, with hat +in hand, stood gravely waiting to speak.</p> +<p>"Is it the wish of Prince Leo to make further explorations, or +will he now return to his father and his home?"</p> +<p>With some self-reproach at having quite forgotten that he had a +father and a home, Leo said he was ready to return.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p><!-- Page 98 --><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a>"Come, then, +we will go."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Good-bye," said Leo. "I hope it will be soon that I shall see +you."</p> +<p>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:</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>Leo found himself alone. He pushed open the cellar door, and +mounted the steps to the <!-- Page 99 --><a name="Page_99" +id="Page_99"></a>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.</p> +<p>"Where are all the people?" shouted Leo in her ear, for he well +knew her infirmity.</p> +<p>"Gone—all gone," she answered.</p> +<p>"And my father, where is he?"</p> +<p>"In bed yet, and he had better stay there, for I've no breakfast +for him."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Even the birds are busy at their nests," thought Leo; +"Everything, every creature, has its work to do. Shall I alone be +idle? Never."</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 100 --><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a>breakfast was +made ready, and with his own hands he took it to him.</p> +<p>"Leo, my long-lost son," exclaimed Morpheus at sight of him, +"Where have you spent the night?"</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 101 --><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 102 --><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a>old copy of +the Doomsday-book had revealed to him, and sign himself in full, +"Leo Sans Lazybones."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>It was an immense spruce, all powdered with +<!-- Page 103 --><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Anything in my power, dear Paz," replied Leo, eagerly.</p> +<p><!-- Page 104 --><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a>"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."</p> +<p>"But that is a mere nothing; can I in any other way serve you?" +asked Leo.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"How about the diamonds?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"The same to you," echoed Leo, but Paz was already muffled in +his furs and running rapidly away.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PHILS_FAIRIES" id="PHILS_FAIRIES"></a> +<!-- Page 105 --><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a>PHIL'S +FAIRIES</h2> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER I</h4> +<h5>THE WIND HARP</h5> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"You will tire yourself, dear, if you try to do that; just shut +your eyes up tight, and try to sleep."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Where did you get them, my darling,"</p> +<p>"From Joe."</p> +<p>"Joe, the fiddler?"</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 106 --><a name="Page_106" +id="Page_106"></a>who knows more fancy figures, and can be +livelier. He <i>is</i> 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?"</p> +<p>"I don't know," said poor, tired Lisa, half asleep, after her +long day's work of standing in a shop.</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 107 --><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>Lisa was so used to these imaginary conversations that they did +not seem strange to her.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>Old Joe, who blackened boots for some of the +<!-- Page 108 --><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 109 --><a name="Page_109" +id="Page_109"></a>window-ledge, and upon the brow of each twinkled +a tiny star, and the leading one of all this bevy of wee people +sang:</p> +<p><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">"Come from afar,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Here we are! here we +are!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">From you Silver Star,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Fays of the Wind,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">To children kind."</span></p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"Of course we will be very glad to," said a soft little voice in +reply to his thoughts.</p> +<p>"I was afraid I would frighten you away if I spoke," said Phil, +gently.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"And what do you tell them?" asked Phil, eagerly.</p> +<p><!-- Page 110 --><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a>"All sorts +of nice things."</p> +<p>"Do you tell them all they want to know?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"It sounds more like Astrea, and that means a star."</p> +<p>"Why, where did you learn so much?"</p> +<p>"I saw it in a big book called a dictionary."</p> +<p>"Another long word. Doesn't your head ache?"</p> +<p>"Sometimes, not now. I have not any books now, except +picture-books."</p> +<p>"Did you ever have?"</p> +<p>"Oh yes; when papa was living we had books +<!-- Page 111 --><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"></a>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."</p> +<p>"Oh, don't say that great ugly word again! Shall I tell my +friends to make some more music?"</p> +<p>"Yes, please."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"I am so glad you like it! we often make music for people, and +they hardly hear it," said the fairy.</p> +<p><!-- Page 112 --><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a>"I do not +see how they can help hearing," said Phil.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"When the wind screams and roars in winter, is it you, then, who +does that too?" asked Phil.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4><!-- Page 113 --><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a>CHAPTER +II</h4> +<h5>PHIL'S NEW FRIEND</h5> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 114 --><a name="Page_114" +id="Page_114"></a>servants at whose homes he was employed.</p> +<p>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 <i>his</i> day were made +of; that fine feathers did not make fine birds; that people +nowadays were all alike, and had no manners.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p><!-- Page 115 --><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 116 --><a name="Page_116" +id="Page_116"></a>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."</p> +<p>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."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"What child?" asked Miss Schuyler, whose tender point was her +love of children. "You haven't any grandchildren, Joe, have +you?"</p> +<p>"No, Miss Rachel, de Lord nebber trusted me with any +chil'en."</p> +<p>"Well, who is Phil?" said Miss Schuyler, +<!-- Page 117 --><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a>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.</p> +<p>"Haven't I tole ye about Phil, Miss Rachel?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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."</p> +<p>"It's a white chile, Miss Rachel."</p> +<p>"Well, I like white children, Joe, though I must confess the +little colored ones are much more interesting," said Miss Rachel, +smiling.</p> +<p><!-- Page 118 --><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a>"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."</p> +<p>"But what about the boy?" asked Miss Schuyler, a little +impatiently.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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?"</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 119 --><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a>allers go in +the alleyway, so I forgit numbers."</p> +<p>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?"</p> +<p>"Course I can, Miss Rachel," replied the old man, delighted that +his words had aroused his listener's sympathies.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 +gentle<!-- Page 120 --><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a>woman, +the only one to whom he would accord this compliment, although he +passed many elegant dames in gay attire.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 121 --><a name="Page_121" +id="Page_121"></a>with his usual crustiness, and quite forgot his +beatitudes.</p> +<p>Miss Schuyler came back in a few minutes with a lovely bunch of +bright blossoms embosomed in geranium leaves.</p> +<p>"Now, then, Joe, this shall be my card; take it in, and tell +Phil I am coming."</p> +<p>"God bless you, Miss Rachel!" was all Joe could reply.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER III</h4> +<h5>PHIL HAS A VISITOR</h5> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 122 --><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a>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.</p> +<p>The boy opened his closed eyes as Joe came in, after knocking, +and looked surprised.</p> +<p>"Why, Joe, what is the matter?" he asked. "You do not come twice +a day very often."</p> +<p>"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 +<i>that</i>," said he triumphantly putting the nosegay before the +child's eyes.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Oh, Joe dear, I am <i>so</i> 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?"</p> +<p><!-- Page 123 --><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a>"Ah, you +can't guess, I reckon."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"It's a pity the one who sent 'em can't hear ye. Shall I bring +her in?"</p> +<p>"Who, Joe—who do you mean?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 124 --><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></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?"</p> +<p>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?"</p> +<p>Phil nodded, still over the flowers.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Have you ever had any teaching, Phil?" she asked.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p><!-- Page 125 --><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a>"And what +is this?" said Miss Schuyler, touching the box with violin strings +across it, which was on a chair beside her.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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."</p> +<p>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:</p> +<p>"Does he have a doctor? Is anything done for him?"</p> +<p>"Nuthin', Miss Rachel, that I knows of. I never knew of his +havin' a doctor."</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 126 --><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 127 --><a name="Page_127" +id="Page_127"></a>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.</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 128 --><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a>in, with a +tired and flushed face, he threw his pencil away and began to +sob.</p> +<p>"Why, my dear Phil," said Lisa, in surprise, "Are you so very +miserable to-night?"</p> +<p>"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!"</p> +<p>"Ah, you are tired; drink this nice milk and you will be +better."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Some one has been kind to my boy."</p> +<p>"Yes; and here is a note for you; and you must dress up, Lisa, +when you go to see our new friend."</p> +<p>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. +<!-- Page 129 --><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a>There seemed +a chance of better things for Phil.</p> +<p>"I will go to-night, if you can spare me."</p> +<p>"Not till you have rested, Lisa; and you must drink all that +milk your own self. Did you ever hear of Miss Schuyler?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"Yes, rather; but I can go. So Joe brought her here?"</p> +<p>"Yes; and see these flowers—yes, you must have some. Put +them in your belt, Lisa."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"And I know it too, dear Lisa," said Phil pulling her down to +him, and throwing both arms <!-- Page 130 --><a name="Page_130" +id="Page_130"></a>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."</p> +<p>"Dear child!" was all Lisa could say, as she did what he asked +her to do, and then left him alone.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER IV</h4> +<h5>A PROMISE OF BETTER TIMES</h5> +<p>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,</p> +<p>"Here we are! here we are!"</p> +<p>"Oh," said Phil, "I thought you never would come again."</p> +<p><!-- Page 131 --><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a>"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."</p> +<p>Phil smelled something exquisite as she spoke, but all he said +was,</p> +<p>"What is a tonic?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Hark! is that my wind harp?—why, it sounds like water +dropping and gurgling over stones."</p> +<p>"It is the song of a mountain brook that my friends are singing +as they dance over your harp. Look!"</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Oh, how beautiful! how beautiful!" said Phil.</p> +<p><!-- Page 132 --><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a>"When you +hear a brook singing, you must remember us," said the fairy.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Ah, better times are coming; then you will not need us."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Does it rest you? are you better?" asked the one little fairy +who did all the talking.</p> +<p>"Oh, so much!" said Phil.</p> +<p>After a while the song stopped, and the fairies drew all +together in a cluster, and were quite still.</p> +<p>"What does that mean?" asked Phil.</p> +<p>"They are disturbed; there is a storm coming. We shall have to +return."</p> +<p><!-- Page 133 --><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a>"I am so +sorry! I wanted to know more about you, and to see what you +wear."</p> +<p>"Mortals must not approach us too nearly. We may draw near to +you. See, I will stand before you."</p> +<p>"You seem to be all moonshine," said Phil.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Do you know flower fairies?"</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"Ether means air," said Phil, quite proudly. "Do you know any +fairy stories?" he asked.</p> +<p>"Yes; shall I tell you one next time I come?"</p> +<p>"Oh do, please. So you <i>will</i> come again."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p><!-- Page 134 --><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4><!-- Page 135 --><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></a>CHAPTER +V</h4> +<h5>LISA VISITS MISS SCHUYLER</h5> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"I am not related to him at all, Miss Schuyler."</p> +<p>"No?" in some surprise. "Why, then, have you the care and charge +of him?"</p> +<p>"I was brought up in his mother's family as seamstress, and went +to live with her when she married Mr. Randolph, and—"</p> +<p>"Who did you say? What Mr. Randolph?"</p> +<p>"Mr. Peyton Randolph."</p> +<p>Miss Rachel seemed much overcome, but she controlled herself, +and hurriedly said, "Go on."</p> +<p>"There was no intercourse between the families after the +marriage, for Mrs. Randolph was <!-- Page 136 --><a name="Page_136" +id="Page_136"></a>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."</p> +<p>Miss Schuyler was crying.</p> +<p>"Lisa, you good woman, how glad I am I have found you! Phil's +father was the dearest friend I ever had."</p> +<p>"Phil's mother gave the child to me, Miss Schuyler."</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 137 --><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137"></a>have friends +fully able to care for him if they would!"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"He shall have all he needs, and you too," said Miss Schuyler, +warmly.</p> +<p>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:</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 138 --><a name="Page_138" +id="Page_138"></a>work. "I shall be so glad to sew again, and I +wish I had some of my work to show you."</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"I am a little afraid," said Lisa, hesitating, "That we are not +fit to; and yet—"</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 139 --><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"></a>and well, and +able to do all that his poor weak hands had tried to do so +ineffectually.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"My poor Phil! I hope help has not come too late," she +whispered, as she began her preparations for his more comfortable +repose.</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 140 --><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"></a>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.</p> +<p>"It seems like Christmas," said Joe.</p> +<p>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."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p><!-- Page 141 --><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"></a>"And, +Joe," said Phil, "We are to go to the country, and you are to go +with us; is not that nice?"</p> +<p>"Very nice, Phil. I'm glad Miss Rachel's found out your father +was her friend."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER VI</h4> +<h5>THE FAIRY'S STORY</h5> +<p>"I promised you a story," said the little voice, to his ear +again.</p> +<p>"Yes, I know you did; can you tell it now?"</p> +<p>"To be sure I can, if I only have time. I +<!-- Page 142 --><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"></a>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."</p> +<p>"How?" asked Phil.</p> +<p>"By coaxing and persuasion for some of them; others we have to +blow upon quite forcibly."</p> +<p>"I am ready for the story when you are," said Phil.</p> +<p>"It is a wild affair, and one that all children might not care +to hear; but to you, I fancy, nothing comes amiss."</p> +<p>"No, I like almost everything," said Phil.</p> +<p>"I shall begin just as my grandmother used to. Once upon a time, +in the days of enchantment, there was a dreadful old +ogre—"</p> +<p>"Do not make him too dreadful, or I shall have bad dreams," +interrupted Phil.</p> +<p>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?"</p> +<p>"Oh yes, and please forgive me for stopping you."</p> +<p><a name="boat" id="boat"></a><!-- Page 143 --><a name="Page_143" +id="Page_143"></a></p> +<div class="center"> +<a href="images/plate-b.jpg"> +<img src="images/plate-b.jpg" width="350" border="0" +alt="THE APPROACH OF THE SWANLIKE BOAT" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>THE APPROACH OF THE SWANLIKE BOAT</b></div> +<br /> +<p><!-- Page 144 --><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"></a> +<!-- Page 145 --><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"></a>"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.</p> +<p>"Now in this lake, on the shore of which was the ogre's castle, +was an island, where lived a <!-- Page 146 --><a name="Page_146" +id="Page_146"></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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"He had no sooner disappeared in his great clumsy craft, laden +with seines and harpoons, and baskets and jugs, than a whispering +began <!-- Page 147 --><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"></a>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.</p> +<p>"'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?'</p> +<p>"'Yes, yes,' came from more than a dozen little tongues.</p> +<p>"'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.'</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 148 --><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"></a>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 <!-- Page 149 --><a name="Page_149" +id="Page_149"></a>consequence. Now I have said all that I need. +These flowers, these fruits, are yours to enjoy in moderation.'</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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 +<i>Swan</i>—the <i>Fairy Swan</i>—in +<!-- Page 150 --><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"Nearer came the sail, and now they could +<!-- Page 151 --><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"></a>all discern +it. Its great clumsy shape, its heavy lumbering action, were not to +be mistaken.</p> +<p>"What should they do?</p> +<p>"'Run for the Princess,' said one.</p> +<p>"'Too cowardly, that,' said another; and indeed their good, +abundant meal had begun to put strange courage in their little +hearts.</p> +<p>"'Let's meet him, and fight him,' said one.</p> +<p>"'Let's upset his boat,' said another.</p> +<p>"'How?'</p> +<p>"'By pelting him with stones when he comes near enough.'</p> +<p>"'Good!' cried they all; and they began gathering all the bits +of rock and pebbles they could find.</p> +<p>"Now came a roar of ogreish rage from the boat as it neared +them.</p> +<p>"'I'll have ye again!' screamed the ogre.</p> +<p>"Then began the attack—a volley of small stones, nuts, +fruits, anything they had in their pockets.</p> +<p>"One of the ogre's eyes was closed, so certain had been the aim +of the tall boy who acted as leader.</p> +<p>"but the boat came nearer, and they were very +<!-- Page 152 --><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"></a>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.'</p> +<p>"So he off with his jacket, and out he waded, while the others +looked on in breathless admiration.</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 153 --><a name="Page_153" +id="Page_153"></a>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.</p> +<p>"Then the boys gave another loud huzza, when, like a broad flash +of sunshine, the lovely Princess came among them.</p> +<p>"'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.'</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 154 --><a name="Page_154" +id="Page_154"></a>cakes abounded. They were too tempting to be long +looked at without tasting, and the boys helped themselves +gladly.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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 <i>Fairy Swan</i>, and away +they sailed for the land of reality and for home. The Princess gave +them each a beautiful portrait of herself, of the +<!-- Page 155 --><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a>island, and +of the <i>Swan</i>. 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."</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER VII</h4> +<h5>FAREWELL TO THE CITY</h5> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 156 --><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 157 --><a name="Page_157" +id="Page_157"></a>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.</p> +<p>"Oh," said Phil, softly, "I wonder if heaven is any better than +this!"</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Lisa, Lisa, is not this too nice for anything?" asked Phil.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"What is the cow's name, Lisa?"</p> +<p>"I don't know," said Lisa.</p> +<p><!-- Page 158 --><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a>"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."</p> +<p>"A boat! Have you a boat?"</p> +<p>"Yes, and you are going out on the lake in her this very +morning."</p> +<p>"It is just too much happiness, Miss Schuyler."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"One moment, Miss Schuyler; do you believe in fairies?"</p> +<p>"Just a little," said Miss Schuyler, with a quizzical smile.</p> +<p><!-- Page 159 --><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"></a>"Well, I +believe in them," said Phil, "And I think you are one of the best +of them."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Good-bye," said Phil, waving her a kiss. "Only think, Lisa, we +will actually see strawberries growing! It is quite fairy-land for +me."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>Lisa had her work-basket, and with deft fingers and a little +undertone of psalmody was fashioning a pretty summer garment. Then +<!-- Page 160 --><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160"></a>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.</p> +<p>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 <i>Flyaway</i>; 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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p><!-- Page 161 --><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"></a>"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.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER VIII</h4> +<h5>THE NEW COMPANION</h5> +<p>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.</p> +<p>Already there was a little color in his pale +<!-- Page 162 --><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"></a>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."</p> +<p>And so Graham Smith, a ruddy-cheeked fellow, full of life and +spirit, came to see Phil.</p> +<p>It was a warm June day when they first saw each other.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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?"</p> +<p>"If I knew what bully meant, I could answer +<!-- Page 163 --><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"Oh, I have not learned yet; I am only just beginning."</p> +<p>"Haven't you had any lessons?"</p> +<p>"No; it comes naturally to me to draw. I wish I could do it +better, that's all," said Phil, with a little sigh.</p> +<p>"I wouldn't want to do any better than that," said Graham.</p> +<p>"Oh yes, you would," replied Phil, very much pleased, however, +with such heartfelt admiration of his drawing.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"That is something <i>I</i> cannot do," said Phil, as the boy +came up to him again; "And yet you do it as easily as I draw."</p> +<p><!-- Page 164 --><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"></a>"What—shy +that stick off on the water? Then you don't play ball?"</p> +<p>"I don't even walk," said Phil.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Oh yes," said Lisa; and Joe was glad to get the <i>Flyaway</i> +ready for a start.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Where shall we go, mate?" asked Graham of Phil.</p> +<p>"The Captain must give orders," was Phil's reply.</p> +<p>"Have you been down to Point of Rocks?" asked Graham, directing +Phil's eyes to a distant promontory.</p> +<p>"No, I have not been so far yet."</p> +<p>"There are lots of water-lilies there."</p> +<p><!-- Page 165 --><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"></a>"Oh, do go +there, then! I want some to copy."</p> +<p>"All right. Pull on your starboard oar, Joe; there, that will +do. Now we will soon reach it."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>The bath over, they turned homeward. Miss Rachel was +entertaining guests in the parlor. +<!-- Page 166 --><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 167 --><a name="Page_167" +id="Page_167"></a>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."</p> +<p>"I am so glad, so very glad, to see you again!" murmured Phil, +softly.</p> +<p>"And I am so glad you are in the country! You could not have +lived long in the city. What are you doing now?"</p> +<p>"Getting well, they tell me."</p> +<p>"Do you ever think of the ones who cannot do that?"</p> +<p>"No, I do not," said Phil, in some surprise.</p> +<p>"Ah, there are so many. I see them often—little creatures +who are friendless and helpless. You should not forget them."</p> +<p>"It is not that I forget, I do not think of them at all. I +suppose I would if I saw them."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p><!-- Page 168 --><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a>"I will +think; I will try," said Phil.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4><!-- Page 169 --><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a>CHAPTER +IX</h4> +<h5>A VISIT FROM THE YOUNG DOCTOR</h5> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>Phil's face lighted up with a grateful smile, which grew into +rather a sober expression.</p> +<p>"I think it is all delightful; but—"</p> +<p>"But what, my dear; are you not contented?"</p> +<p>"Oh yes, more than that: I am as happy as I can be; +but—"</p> +<p>"Another but."</p> +<p>"Miss Rachel, what becomes of all the poor sick children in the +city who have no such friend as you are to me?"</p> +<p>"They suffer sadly, dear Phil."</p> +<p><!-- Page 170 --><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a>"Then +don't you think I ought to remember them sometimes?"</p> +<p>"Yes, in your prayers."</p> +<p>"Is there no other way?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"I suppose I do not deserve any praise if I was made so," said +Phil, laughing.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"A picnic! a real one in the woods?"</p> +<p>"Yes, and here comes Graham with a basket. +<!-- Page 171 --><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a>I wonder what +is in it. Good-bye. I will send him up to you."</p> +<p>Graham came up in a few moments with the basket on his arm.</p> +<p>"Guess what I have here, Phil."</p> +<p>"How can I?"</p> +<p>"Oh yes, you can—just guess."</p> +<p>"Something to eat?"</p> +<p>"No, little piggy; or rather yes, if you choose."</p> +<p>"Well, chickens or eggs?"</p> +<p>"No, neither."</p> +<p>"Fruit?"</p> +<p>"Guess again."</p> +<p>"Medicine for some of your father's sick people?"</p> +<p>"No."</p> +<p>"Flowers? Oh no, one cannot eat flowers if they choose. I give +it up."</p> +<p>"Well, then, watch," and lifting the cover slowly, three cunning +white rabbits poked their little twitching noses over the edge of +the basket.</p> +<p>Phil gazed at them delightedly. "And you call those little +darlings something to eat, do you?"</p> +<p>"If you choose, yes."</p> +<p><!-- Page 172 --><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></a>"As if any +one could choose to be such a cannibal! What precious little +beauties they are! Oh, how pretty they look!"</p> +<p>"They are for you."</p> +<p>"Really! Oh, thank you, Graham. But you must ask Miss +Schuyler."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"And you can build—handle tools like a carpenter? How nice +that must be!"</p> +<p>"Oh, that's nothing; all boys can do that."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"I beg your pardon," he said, in a low voice.</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"Almost any green thing; they are very fond of lettuce. When you +are able you must come and see my lop-ears."</p> +<p>"Have you many rabbits?"</p> +<p>"Yes, quite a number. Let me see: there's +<!-- Page 173 --><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a>Neb (he's an +old black fellow—Nebuchadnezzar), and Miss Snowflake, Aunt +Chloe (after the one in <i>Uncle Tom's Cabin</i>), Fanny Elssler +(because she jumps about so), and Mr. Prim—- he is the +stillest old codger you ever saw."</p> +<p>"What other pets have you?"</p> +<p>"I've lots of chickens, three dogs, two cats, a squirrel, and a +parrot."</p> +<p>"A large family."</p> +<p>"Yes, almost too large; they will have to be given up soon."</p> +<p>"How soon?"</p> +<p>"In the fall, I suppose; I am going to boarding-school."</p> +<p>"What fun!"</p> +<p>"You would be amused with Polly. She is a gay old +thing—laughs, sings, and dances."</p> +<p>"Oh, Graham, can she do all that?"</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p><!-- Page 174 --><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a>"She +screams out 'Fire!' like an old fury, but she is as serene as a May +day when she gets her cup of coffee."</p> +<p>"Is that your parrot, Graham?" asked Miss Schuyler.</p> +<p>"Yes, ma'am, that's our green-and-golden Polly."</p> +<p>"We will have to pay it a visit. Can you join our picnic +to-morrow? it is Phil's first one."</p> +<p>"Really! why, he has a good deal to learn of our country +ways."</p> +<p>"Yes, and I have a little plan to propose in which you may help +us. Promise you will come."</p> +<p>"Oh, I am always ready, thank you, Miss Schuyler. Shall we go by +boat?"</p> +<p>"To be sure, to Eagle Island."</p> +<p>"Then we will go early, I suppose, as it is quite a long pull. +What must I bring, Miss Schuyler?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p><!-- Page 175 --><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></a>"There is +no danger about that, I am sure," said Graham, gallantly, "If Miss +Schuyler leads us."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Good-bye, then, Phil; good-bye, Miss Schuyler. To-morrow at +nine."</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER X</h4> +<h5>THE PICNIC</h5> +<p>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 +<i>Flyaway</i> sat Phil, on a pile of shawls; in the other were +stowed a large basket, a pail of +<!-- Page 176 --><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></a>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.</p> +<p>"I thought we could get away unnoticed," said Miss Rachel, "but +I find myself mistaken."</p> +<p>The boys pleaded for Nep. "Ah, let him come, please let him +come."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Poor Nep," said Phil, patting him, "he felt neglected"; and the +big tail wagged thankful thumps against the boat.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>Graham began a boating song, and Miss Schuyler joined in the +chorus. Old Joe <!-- Page 177 --><a name="Page_177" +id="Page_177"></a>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.</p> +<p>"Here we are!" said Graham at last, bringing the <i>Flyaway</i> +up nicely on a pebbly beach, in good boating style.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Just the thing!" said Graham; "but I did not bring a line."</p> +<p><!-- Page 178 --><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a>"Joe has +everything necessary—bait and all," said Miss Schuyler.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>Miss Schuyler read, explained, talked to Phil about his drawing, +and gave him the names of the trees about him.</p> +<p>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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p><!-- Page 179 --><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a>"Now we +want a good flat stone for our fireplace, and—Ah! here come +our fishermen just in time."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>Then they all sat around their grassy table, and Joe served them +in fine style, bringing them their fish smoking hot on white +napkins.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"It is just the jolliest picnic I ever was at," said Graham, +helping to wash and clear away, and re-stow spoons and forks.</p> +<p>"Of course it is," said Phil. "There never can be another quite +so nice: it is my first one, you know."</p> +<p>"Yes; just think of it, and it's my fiftieth, I +<!-- Page 180 --><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></a>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."</p> +<p>"Dear, dear, what a chapter of accidents, Graham!"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 181 --><a name="Page_181" +id="Page_181"></a>been considering, and a little plan came into my +head in which I thought you could help us, Graham."</p> +<p>Graham looked up with a pleased face, and nodded.</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"It would be lovely, Miss Schuyler," said Phil, "only I do not +see how <i>we</i> could help; it would all come from you."</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"Yes, indeed," both exclaimed.</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 182 --><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></a>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?"</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Hi! look up dar, Miss Schuyler!" called out Joe.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p><a name="eagle" id="eagle"></a> +<!-- Page 183 --><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183"></a></p> +<div class="center"> +<a href="images/plate-c.jpg"> +<img src="images/plate-c.jpg" width="350" border="0" +alt=""LOOK! THERE'S AN EAGLE"" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>"LOOK! THERE'S AN EAGLE"</b></div> +<br /> +<p><!-- Page 184 --><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184"></a> +<!-- Page 185 --><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185"></a>"A black +snake—oh, what a dreadful creature!" exclaimed Lisa.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"How did you do it, Graham?" asked Phil, excitedly.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Yes, I never saw a snake on this island before."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4><!-- Page 186 --><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186"></a>CHAPTER +XI</h4> +<h5>A PAIR OF CRUTCHES</h5> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 187 --><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"></a>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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>Driving behind old Slow Coach and floating on the lake in the +<i>Flyaway</i> 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, +<!-- Page 188 --><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"></a>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!"</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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:</p> +<p><!-- Page 189 --><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"></a>"You do +not know me?" said a tiny voice, rather reproachfully.</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"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, <!-- Page 190 --><a name="Page_190" +id="Page_190"></a>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."</p> +<p>"No," said Phil, "I never saw one. And so you are going +away—"</p> +<p>"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 <i>is</i> a ship for me, but it would not +<!-- Page 191 --><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191"></a>hold +you—oh no! not such a gigantic creature as a boy"; and the +fairy laughed aloud.</p> +<p>"Dear me," said Phil; "No more visits, no more fairy stories. +What will I do?"</p> +<p>"Shall I tell you just one more story before I say +good-bye?"</p> +<p>"Please do."</p> +<p>"Well, shut your eyes and listen."</p> +<p>Phil obeyed, and the fairy began:</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 192 --><a name="Page_192" +id="Page_192"></a>ruthless fashion, and even pulling them up by the +roots when he felt like it.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"A great green tear rolled down from the +<!-- Page 193 --><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193"></a>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?'</p> +<p>"'I am sure I don't know,' croaked Arthur, hoarse as if he had +been born with a sore throat.</p> +<p>"'But what <i>is</i> the matter?' persisted the little brown +bird, as more green tears splashed beside her.</p> +<p>"'The matter is that I am a frog, I suppose,' said Arthur, +rather rudely.</p> +<p>"'Well, what of that?' still said the little bird. 'Frogs are +very respectable.'</p> +<p>"'Are they, indeed; then I'd rather not be respectable,' said +Arthur.</p> +<p>"'You shock me,' said the bird.</p> +<p>"'I don't wonder; it has been a great shock to me,' responded +Arthur.</p> +<p>"'What has?' said the bird.</p> +<p>"'Being a frog,' replied Arthur.</p> +<p>"'Have you not always? Oh no; I presume you were once a tadpole; +all frogs are at first.'</p> +<p>"'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 <i>kerthumps</i>, which brought +<!-- Page 194 --><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194"></a>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.'</p> +<p>"'Aha!' twittered the little brown bird, 'I see now: you have +been bewitched.'</p> +<p>"'I suppose so,' said Arthur, 'and I would gladly be bewitched +into a boy again, if that would do any good.'</p> +<p>"'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.'</p> +<p>"'You are very kind,' replied Arthur, taking no notice of the +latter words.</p> +<p>"'Oh no, not at all; it is a pleasure,' said the little brown +bird.</p> +<p>"'Can I do anything for you?' asked Arthur, roused into +politeness by the pleasant manners of his little friend.</p> +<p>"'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 +<!-- Page 195 --><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195"></a>stay quiet +and keep cool till I return'; and she flew softly away.</p> +<p>"'I can keep cool enough,' repeated Arthur; 'when one's legs are +in the water, it would be pretty hard to do anything else.'</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER XII</h4> +<h5>THE FAIRY'S STORY CONTINUED</h5> +<p>"Sooner than he had supposed, Arthur heard the soft little +twitter of his new friend.</p> +<p>"'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; +<!-- Page 196 --><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196"></a>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,</p> +<p>"'"Promise him something he likes as a ransom, and perhaps he +will answer your request."</p> +<p>"'"but I do not know what he likes," I replied. "Can you suggest +anything?" I added, in the same whisper.</p> +<p>"'"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."</p> +<p>"'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, <!-- Page 197 --><a name="Page_197" +id="Page_197"></a>and by no means to remain there, but return here, +and your reward will await you.'</p> +<p>"Arthur thanked the little bird warmly, but inwardly despaired +of accomplishing anything so difficult.</p> +<p>"The little bird hopped restlessly about. 'You will try to do +this, will you not?' she asked.</p> +<p>"'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.'</p> +<p>"'Streams run into rivers, and rivers to the sea,' twittered the +bird.</p> +<p>"'Yes; but I hardly think frogs swim in deep water. I will have +to contrive a boat or a float of some sort.'</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"'Jump on my back, jump on my back, and be off, alack!'</p> +<p>"'Go,' said the bird, quickly.</p> +<p><!-- Page 198 --><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198"></a>"Arthur +made a bound, and found himself on Mr. Specklesides's back in an +instant.</p> +<p>"'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.</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 199 --><a name="Page_199" +id="Page_199"></a>the trout's back, and by dint of desperate +efforts reached the shore, where for a long while he lay +motionless.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"'"Streams run into rivers, and rivers to the sea," and I must +look for some other method than the trout's back.'</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"'Hush!' cried Arthur, impatiently. 'Why do you want to spoil +the night with such wailing?'</p> +<p>"'I have lost three lovely little owlets,' was the response. +'Darling little fluffy cherubs! Never had an owl-mother three such +beauties!'</p> +<p><!-- Page 200 --><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200"></a>"'Where +are they?' asked Arthur.</p> +<p>"'Devoured by a horrible night-hawk,' sobbed the owl.</p> +<p>"'Where has the night-hawk flown?'</p> +<p>"'Far down the river after prey.'</p> +<p>"'Why do you not go after him and punish him?'</p> +<p>"'It is too far, and I am too sorrowful.'</p> +<p>"'You have no spirit. <i>I</i> would peck his eyes out were I in +your place.'</p> +<p>"'Ah! you are young and strong and brave.'</p> +<p>"'Take me on your back, and we will fly after him.'</p> +<p>"'Come, then, and do battle for me, noble friend.'</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"The moon had now risen, and the air seemed transparent +silver.</p> +<p>"Keeping near the border of the river, which +<!-- Page 201 --><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201"></a>had greatly +widened, they emerged from one forest only to enter another.</p> +<p>"The wild cries of loons saluted them; herds of deer, cooling +themselves in the water, glanced up with startled gaze as they +passed.</p> +<p>"A dark bird flapped low over the water as a fish leaped from +the waves.</p> +<p>"'It is my enemy,' whispered the owl.</p> +<p>"'Pursue him,' returned Arthur.</p> +<p>"'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.'</p> +<p>"'But if we kill him he can do no further mischief.'</p> +<p>"'True, true; but he is a fearful fellow. What weapons have you +with which to meet him?'</p> +<p>"'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, +<!-- Page 202 --><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202"></a>and you must +then make a dash for his eyes. Pluck them out if you can; it will +be worse than death for him.'</p> +<p>"'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.'</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"'Now how shall I repay you, my brave friend?' asked the owl, as +Arthur leaped upon land.</p> +<p>"'I do not wish for any reward,' replied Arthur.</p> +<p>"'Nevertheless, you will not refuse to grant a sorrowful and +stricken mother the little balm which her grateful spirit seeks in +the return or <!-- Page 203 --><a name="Page_203" +id="Page_203"></a>acknowledgment of so vast a favor as you have +conferred upon me.'</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"'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.'</p> +<p>"This was no sooner said than done. They flew swiftly over the +now broad expanse of <!-- Page 204 --><a name="Page_204" +id="Page_204"></a>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.</p> +<p>"'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.'</p> +<p>"'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?'"</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER XIII</h4> +<h5>THE FAIRY'S STORY CONCLUDED</h5> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"'I will go,' he answered. 'I do not pretend +<!-- Page 205 --><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205"></a>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.'</p> +<p>"'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.'</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"'Now how to carry it back is the question,' said Arthur, rather +dolorously.</p> +<p><!-- Page 206 --><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206"></a>"'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.'</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 207 --><a name="Page_207" +id="Page_207"></a><!-- Page 208 --><a name="Page_208" +id="Page_208"></a><!-- Page 209 --><a name="Page_209" +id="Page_209"></a>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.</p> +<p><a name="sturgeon" id="sturgeon"></a></p> +<div class="center"> +<a href="images/plate-a.jpg"> +<img src="images/plate-a.jpg" width="600" border="0" +alt="MAKING THE STURGEON USEFUL" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>MAKING THE STURGEON USEFUL</b></div> +<br /> +<br /> + +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"The owl screamed, the kingfisher shouted hoarsely, but +tightened his hold upon the rope, while the sturgeon dashed madly +on.</p> +<p>"Again he made another frantic leap, whereupon the kingfisher +gave him a thrust with his beak, to which the sturgeon replied,</p> +<p>"'The current is becoming too shallow; I can go no farther. I +<i>must</i> 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?'</p> +<p><!-- Page 210 --><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210"></a>"'Forward +again!' shouted the kingfisher, tightening the rope once more.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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,</p> +<p>"'Here I am again, my distressed friend.'</p> +<p>"At the same moment the kingfisher swooped +<!-- Page 211 --><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211"></a>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.'</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 212 --><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 213 --><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213"></a>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."</p> +<p>"Good-bye, dear Phil; I am off now. This is my last story."</p> +<p>"Where am I? Has the music stopped? Was it my wind harp—my +poor little wind harp?"</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"No. I wonder if I shall ever see the wind fairy again?"</p> +<p>"Dreaming again, Phil?" said Lisa.</p> +<p>"You always think I dream, Lisa, whenever I speak of +fairies."</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 214 --><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214"></a>dinner, +and we three are to have ours on Eagle Island."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER XIV</h4> +<h5>PLANS FOR THE WINTER</h5> +<p>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.</p> +<p>Slowly up the garden path came old Joe. He took off his hat and +stood still a moment waiting for Phil to speak.</p> +<p><!-- Page 215 --><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215"></a>"Well, +Joe, what is it?" said Phil, hardly looking up, he was so busy.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"What are you driving at, Joe?" asked Phil, absently.</p> +<p>"I mean I's a-gwine home, Massa Phil."</p> +<p>"To the city?" said Phil, surprised into attention.</p> +<p>"Yes, back to New York. I wants to go to work."</p> +<p>"Have you not enough to do here?"</p> +<p>"No," said Joe, with a chuckle. "It's all play here—no +real hard work sich as I's customed to."</p> +<p>"It is time you took it easy, Joe," said Phil.</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>Phil looked up hastily; a bright look of gratitude and love came +into his eyes.</p> +<p>Just then Miss Schuyler appeared, with a +<!-- Page 216 --><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216"></a>glass jar of +jelly in her hand; the maid was following with a trayful.</p> +<p>"Joe wants to go to the city, Aunt Rachel," said Phil.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>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."</p> +<p>"Travel!—where?—when?" said Phil, eagerly.</p> +<p>"The doctors suggest our going abroad—to a warm climate +for the winter—where we please; in summer, to the German +baths."</p> +<p>"Oh, Aunt Rachel!"</p> +<p>This was enough for Phil to think of and +<!-- Page 217 --><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>In three weeks' time they were to start for Europe. The days +were spent in preparation. <!-- Page 218 --><a name="Page_218" +id="Page_218"></a>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.</p> +<p>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, <!-- Page 219 --><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219"></a>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.</p> +<p>A day or two before their departure Lisa came to him with tears +in her eyes and a little package in her hand.</p> +<p>"Open it, dear; it is for you."</p> +<p>It was a tiny leather purse with four dollars in it.</p> +<p>"Lisa, you must not give me all this."</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Oh, Lisa!" was all Phil could say, for though grateful, he was +yet disappointed that Lisa had not kept his picture.</p> +<p>"Now, dear," she said, "you can buy some little trifle for Joe, +and any one else you want to make a present to."</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p><!-- Page 220 --><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220"></a>"After all +the pains I took with that little picture, Aunt Rachel, to think of +Lisa's selling it! Oh, how could she?"</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>Joe was made happy with some new bandanna handkerchiefs in +brilliant yellows and <!-- Page 221 --><a name="Page_221" +id="Page_221"></a>reds, a pipe, some tobacco, and a suit of clothes +from Miss Schuyler.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Yes, dear child, so it does. And let us hope that we shall find +that beautiful island, and never wish to leave it."</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="FLORIO_AND_FLORELLA" id="FLORIO_AND_FLORELLA"></a> +<!-- Page 222 --><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222"></a>FLORIO AND +FLORELLA</h2> +<h3>A CHRISTMAS FAIRY TALE</h3> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER I</h4> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 223 --><a name="Page_223" +id="Page_223"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 224 --><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224"></a>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,</p> +<p>"That's right."</p> +<p>Florio jumped as if a wasp had stung him.</p> +<p>"Yes," continued the voice, "you couldn't have pleased me +better."</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"To-night?" questioned the boy, who did not like the +darkness.</p> +<p>"Yes, child; have no fear. I am the fairy Florella. Adieu."</p> +<p><!-- Page 225 --><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 226 --><a name="Page_226" +id="Page_226"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p><!-- Page 227 --><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227"></a>"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?"</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 228 --><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228"></a>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."</p> +<p>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,</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"Spoken well, my lad," said the fairy. "I do not expect +impossibilities. <i>We</i> 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 +<!-- Page 229 --><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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?"</p> +<p>"Oh yes, the rhyme will help me:</p> +<p><span style="margin-left: 1.3em;">"'When I get to +Geneva,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Then I must leave her.'"</span></p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>The fairy vanished, and with her went her band—nodding, +waving, and kissing their finger-tips.</p> +<p>Oh, how dreary the woods seemed without the +<!-- Page 230 --><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230"></a>little troop! +The wind sighed in the pines, and the moonlight cast fearful +shadows from the gnarled and knotty boughs.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER II</h4> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 231 --><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p><!-- Page 232 --><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 233 --><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"So, so; slowly, please," answered the cool and courageous +Franz. Then he told them his adventure.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p><!-- Page 234 --><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234"></a>"Poor +child! poor child! he shall be welcome. A sorry Christmas it is for +him."</p> +<p>"Not when he fell into your hands, good mother," said Franz, +ladling out the soup.</p> +<p>"No indeed—no indeed," said one and all.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>This word was simply "Edelweiss." "Edelweiss," he muttered, when +the fever was at its height, and "Edelweiss" he softly whispered +when dreaming.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>Christmas-eve would be on the morrow, and all were busy dressing +the room with boughs of <!-- Page 235 --><a name="Page_235" +id="Page_235"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>But soon they were sleeping quietly, and the moon shone upon +happy faces—only the little guest tossed and murmured +"Edelweiss."</p> +<p><!-- Page 236 --><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236"></a>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.</p> +<p>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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Edelweiss! Edelweiss!" was all he could utter, but the sweet +and grateful tone thanked Franz better than a thousand other words +could have done.</p> +<p>"Why, Franz," they all asked, "Where did you +<!-- Page 237 --><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237"></a>get it at +this season? It does not grow in winter."</p> +<p>"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 Glückner 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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER III</h4> +<p>Again the summer-time had come, with all its warmth and beauty. +The fairies were thronging all the wildwood one lovely +<!-- Page 238 --><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 239 --><a name="Page_239" +id="Page_239"></a>Florella, with a gentle wave of her hand, +commanded silence.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>Florio had learned to be mannerly, so with cap in hand he only +leaned against a beech-tree, and began:</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 240 --><a name="Page_240" +id="Page_240"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"We toiled along on the roadsides, begging from house to +house.</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 241 --><a name="Page_241" +id="Page_241"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 242 --><a name="Page_242" +id="Page_242"></a>crawled from the wreck of an old unused craft. +Without a word of warning Fuss came up behind me and gave me a +push.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"'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.</p> +<p><span style="margin-left: 1em;">"'When you get to +Geneva,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Then you must leave +her.'</span></p> +<p>"Oh, joy! Then I need no longer follow my dreadful guide! And +there were people about who spoke English.</p> +<p>"As soon as I could discover who these English people were I +made inquiries of them, and <!-- Page 243 --><a name="Page_243" +id="Page_243"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 244 --><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244"></a>floated +brilliant butterflies and golden bees.</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 245 --><a name="Page_245" +id="Page_245"></a>Father Glückner 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."</p> +<p>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:</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 246 --><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="BOREAS_BLUSTERS_CHRISTMAS_PRESENT" +id="BOREAS_BLUSTERS_CHRISTMAS_PRESENT"></a> +<!-- Page 247 --><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247"></a>BOREAS +BLUSTER'S CHRISTMAS PRESENT</h2> +<p>"'<i>Tis an ill wind that blows no good</i>."</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER I</h4> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Catch any pert, saucy little flowers sticking up their heads +through such a blanket!" said <!-- Page 248 --><a name="Page_248" +id="Page_248"></a>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!"</p> +<p>"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,</p> +<p>"There's the gout again, I do believe!"</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p><!-- Page 249 --><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 250 --><a name="Page_250" +id="Page_250"></a>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.</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 251 --><a name="Page_251" +id="Page_251"></a>cap closely about his ears, he went out into the +night.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 252 --><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252"></a>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,</p> +<p>"What will you, my master?"</p> +<p>"I would see thy lord, the good St. Nicholas—the Storm +King's enemy. Is he at home?"</p> +<p>"He is at home, but he is no man's enemy. What message shall I +bear him?'</p> +<p>"Tell him that Boreas, of the Frozen Noses, awaits him." The +dwarf vanished, and returned.</p> +<p>"My lord bids thee enter, but entreats thee to be gentle, and +remember the manners of his court."</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>"Pardon," answered the dwarf, "but we are no sticklers for +ceremony, and recognize no rank <!-- Page 253 --><a name="Page_253" +id="Page_253"></a>save goodness. Follow me if it be thy wish to +enter."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 254 --><a name="Page_254" +id="Page_254"></a>them, and whose white beard fell in a flowing +mass upon his breast. What could be seen of his face bore a kind +expression.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"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. <!-- Page 255 --><a name="Page_255" +id="Page_255"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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 +<!-- Page 256 --><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256"></a>bounded into +the old man's arms and kissed him.</p> +<p>Turning away with a pang of jealousy, Boreas muttered, "She +wouldn't kiss <i>me</i>; 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.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER II</h4> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p><!-- Page 257 --><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257"></a>"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."</p> +<p>"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.</p> +<p>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 <!-- Page 258 --><a name="Page_258" +id="Page_258"></a>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.</p> +<p>"Ah, if I had my little one!" murmured the good woman. "but God +knows best," she quickly added, as she remembered many +blessings.</p> +<p>"Here comes Olaf!" shouted Fritz from below. "Come quickly, lest +he think thee tardy."</p> +<p>"Yes, yes, I come. I see him," was her reply. "but what is that +he carries—something he has picked up on the way?"</p> +<p>"A Christmas gift for thee," was the merry answer from Olaf's +ringing voice, as he laid a strange bundle in her arms.</p> +<hr style="Width: 65%;" /> +<h4>CHAPTER III</h4> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 259 --><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259"></a>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 260 --><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260"></a>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.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>"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 <!-- Page 261 --><a name="Page_261" +id="Page_261"></a>wholesome way, seeing that's what you approve +of."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Think of us often, dear child," she whispered, "And give my +love to <i>everybody</i>."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>"Now, Flaxie," said Santa Claus, after they had skimmed over the +snow with lightning speed <!-- Page 262 --><a name="Page_262" +id="Page_262"></a>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!"</p> +<p>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,</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p><!-- Page 263 --><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263"></a>"Oh, Olaf, +it is my little Lena come back, I do believe!" cried the woman, +while tears of joy ran down her face.</p> +<p>"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."</p> +<p>Then Flaxie told the story of her visit to St. Nicholas, while +Olaf, Fritz, and his wife listened in amazement.</p> +<p>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."</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p>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 +<!-- Page 264 --><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264"></a>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.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCE LAZYBONES AND OTHER STORIES***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 15227-h.txt or 15227-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/2/2/15227">https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/2/2/15227</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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 + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 15227-h.htm or 15227-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/2/2/15227/15227-h/15227-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/2/2/15227/15227-h.zip) + + + + + +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. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCE LAZYBONES AND OTHER STORIES*** + + +******* This file should be named 15227.txt or 15227.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/2/2/15227 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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