songs of the birds. At last when she had surveyed all the newly awakened glories of the garden, she neared the white gate and peeped over. If the garden looked beautiful in its spring dress, how much more so the wood. It seemed to be carpeted with flowers that grew among the bright grasses; and over the whole the sunlight glittered, dappling the ground with light. 'Oh, how beautiful!' exclaimed Elsie. 'I must go in and pick some of those pretty flowers for mamma.'

No sooner said than done, and Elsie had passed the gate, and stood upon the confines of the wood. White and purple violets, wild blue harebells, snowy woodanemones, pale golden primroses, and modest daisies pied the ground. She walked on and on, thinking of nothing but these sweet blossoms, and gathering them as she went, till her little apron was full. At one spot the violets peeped thickest, in another grew the finest clumps of primroses, and here a little farther on was a mass of the elegant wood-sorrel, with its pretty thin leaves and delicate white bells.

Elsie plucked them eagerly, and still the thought of returning never occurred to her. For the farther she went on, the more beautiful the wood seemed to become, and all the trees, flowers, and birds appeared to lure her on, and to say, 'Come, Elsie, come. You have not seen half our loveliness yet.'

And whenever Elsie felt a little tired, or the idea of turning back crossed her mind, she always saw some bright flower, some pretty insect, in the distance, to attract her onward. Now she had penetrated unconsciously into the domain of a wicked fairy, who tried to attract children into the wood, that they might serve her; for she liked to be waited upon by pretty little boys and girls, and had long looked on Elsie with a jealous eye. But never till to-day had she seen any chance of luring her hither, for Elsie had never before been in the wood alone. The child wandered on and on, forgetting fatigue, duty, and obedience, till she found the paths grow indistinct and mazed. Just then, as she began to feel tired and a little frightened, a white house came in sight.

'Come,' she thought, I can't be so very far from home after all, for here is a house. I'll go in and ask them to give me a drink of water and let me rest a little, and then I'll soon run home with my pretty flowers.'

So she rang the bell. It was such a beautiful place, all built of white marble, situated in the middle of a lovely garden. She admired it as she waited.

The door was opened by a pretty girl, about Elsie's age.

'Oh, here you are at last!' she said, before Elsie

could speak. 'We have waited for you such a long time. Come in,' and she held out her hand.

Elsie stared in amazement.

'You must be mistaken,' she answered; 'I have gone a little too far beyond the edge of the wood, and am tired.'

'No, no,' interrupted the other, 'there is no mistake. I know you very well; you are called Elsie; my companions and I have been waiting for you a very long time, and wishing you would come.'

As she spoke she drew Elsie into the hall, a beautiful place full of marble statues that seemed to grow out of beds of flowers and ferns. Elsie was so dazzled by all the loveliness, she could not speak, and let the other child lead her on.

They entered a large room, where sat a beautiful lady. Her long golden hair rippled in waves to her knees; she was dressed in a white robe; on her arms and neck shone crystal jewels, and her face wore a fascinating smile. She sat on a raised throne of ivory. The whole room was inlaid with gold, silver, and mother-of-pearl, and on the floor lay wrought stuffs of Indian design.

When the beautiful lady saw Elsie, she rose, and smiling still more sweetly, held out her arms to

wards her.

'Welcome, dear child.'

Elsie hardly knew what was happening to her; but after the beautiful lady had embraced her, and kissed her on brow and eyes, she seemed to have forgotten everything about her lost way and her home.

'You must call me Winnabelle,' said the lady; 'all your little companions call me so. But, I forget; you have not seen them yet.'

She clapped her hands three times, and one of the ivory doors opened, admitting a whole troop of boys and girls. The girls were all dressed in white, with blue sashes and crystal beads; the boys in blue velvet, with white leathern bands and boots. Elsie glanced first at them, then at her own plain grey frock and dirty shoes.

'It does not matter,' said Winnabelle, divining her thoughts; 'you shall have just the same.'

She had hardly said so, than Elsie's clothes had disappeared, and she was dressed just like the others. The children all crowded round to welcome her. Elsie thought they did not look quite happy, still that might be fancy. Only they always looked so anxiously at Winnabelle after they had said anything, as though they feared her disapproval.

'Show your new friend her room, girls,' said Winnabelle at last.

What a beautiful room it was! all ivory and light