# FOREWORD

The author has asked many mothers how they would explain the reality and significance of unseen things to children. Rarely has she received an illuminating answer. This story - Magic Innerland -is written in the hope that it will not only entertain, but also make the unseen real and understandable.

Thus a new world is operned up by the magic
creative power of INNERLAND.

WHEN I RIDE IN INNERLAND I RIDE
WHERE'ER I PLEASE.

When I ride in Innerland
I ride where'er I please;
"Ship ahoy!" I cry,
"I wish to sail the seas."

And if the seas are mountain high
I'll jump into my plane;
I'll take my faery friend along
Then we'll go off to Spain.

I'll ride on my rocking-horse,
I'll ride to the moon;
You can tell my Daddy
I'll come back very soon.

For it only takes a second,
It's a jolly pretty sight,
A-riding like a Valkyrie
In the bright moonlight.

And sometimes when I'm all alone
I think its lots of fun
to take a peep in Innerland
And see what's going on.

For when you go to Innerland
You go where'er you please.

MAGIC INNERLAND.

One winter night, a little boy called Jimmy, lay curled up in his grandmother's arms before a big open fire.

The log was singing a little song.

The blue, red and yellow flames were danc-
ing a merry dance, in and out, and round about,
before they went up the chimney to see the moon
and the stars.

They were so merry and of such lovely
colors - every color of the rainbow; because
they were faery sunbeams captured by the trees long
ago. And now the log was burning and they were
so happy to be free. They danced, laughed and
sang merrily.

Jimmy looked up into his grandmother's
eyes and said:

Grandma, are faeries real? Can I see
them with my eyes? Can I touch them with my
hands? I would like to go to Faeryland. I
have seen pictures in books of faeries in
Faeryland, but my nurse says that Faeryland
is not real and true, that the pictures of
faeries are only painted for little children."

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Jimmy and his grandmother rocked before
the big, singing fire, and Jimmy stretched his
feet out and the little blue, red and golden
flames warmed them before dancing up the chimney
to see the moon and the stars.

"Do you believe in Faeryland, Grandma?"
Jimmy asked again.

His grandmother kissed Jimmy and gave
him a big hug, and answered:

"Yes, I believe in Faeryland, and grown-
up people believe in Faeryland as well as children,
but they sometimes call it Dreamland -- Innerland --
the great Creative Land - that means, they see things
in Innerland and try to make their visions, their
dreams come real and true in the land we live in,
called Outerland.

"Would you like to have me show you how to go to Faeryland, Innerland? When you learn how, Jimmy, you can go there any time you like, all by yourself!"

Jimmy was quite excited by the thought
of knowing how to find Faeryland. So he kissed
his grandmother and nodded his head.

"But, Grandma," he said, "how can I
go traveling in my nightgown and my feet all bare?"

-3-

He wondered how he was to find Faeryland.

It is easy to go to Faeryland," his
grandmother assured him, "but before you can
understand how to go there I must tell you where
Faeryland is, and also about the two lands we
live in, Jimmy. They are called -

Innerland and Outerland.

"You already understand about Outer-
land. You live in a house, you can play
with your toys, and you can ride in a motor
car. You can also see the trees and flowers
in your garden and in the fields, and you
can walk in the green grass with your feet.
In the Summer you live in the sunshine in
your big houseboat, 'Mother Goose,' and you
can row in a little boat on the water. All
these things you can touch with your hands, see
with your eyes open, in Outerland. It is a very
wonderful land.

"But Innerland is more wonderful,
Jimmy, although you cannot touch things there
with your hands, nor see things with your eyes
open, nor walk there with your feet.

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"Now then, Jimmy, sing me a little song."
And Jimmy sang a song for his Grandmother.

"Now close your mouth; do not make a sound. Shut your eyes and see if you can sing and hear that song in your head?" And Jimmy shut his eyes and tried to hear, but he exclaimed, "I cannot hear anything!"

"Oh, you haven't tried hard enough."
His grandmother smiled. "You must be very quiet and soon you will hear."

After a while Jimmy laughed merrily and said: "I can hear it. Perhaps there is a music box in my head."

"Now I am going to tell you a story,"
Grandmother said.

"Once there was a great musician, his name was Richard Wagner, and he believed in Faeryland. He shut his eyes and saw pictures in his Innerland. He made a Faery story - and when he finished his wonderful story, he listened; the music rolled into his Innerland. And he set the Faery story to music. Then he used the Faery story and music for a great opera that is heard now all over the world. You see, he

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had to find that story in his thought in Innerland
before he could give it to Outerland.

"It was all about a god called Wotan, who had
a beautiful daughter by the name of Brunhilda.
She was the most beautiful of all his nine daughters.
They were called Valkyries.

"She had saved the life of one of the
Valkyries, who loved a mortal and protected
their child. Now this was against her father's
wishes; he was very angry and said he must punish
her.

"So Brunhilde, the Valkyrie, and all
her sisters fled from his wrath. Brunhilda
mounted her white-winged horse, Ganymede, and
she and her sisters flew through the air on
their winged horses to the mountainhold that
reached way up into the sky.

"Now, the great musician, Richard Wagner, heard
the violins, the cellos, the drums rumbling and
beating, the ringing and clashing of the cymbals
and the horns, music that is so powerful and loud
in Outerland, but in Innerland, that silent land,
he could shut his ears and hear it all, and he wrote down
that thrilling gallop, "The Ride of the Valkyries."

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"I know that music, Grandma," Jimmy said. We play it on the phonograph. I know how Wotan put Brunhilda to sleep on top of a mountain - to sleep for many years - until a very brave man could wake her up."

"Yes, Jimmy, that is what Wotan did; and he built flaming fires around the mountain way down in the ravines."

"The great musician shut his eyes and in Innerland he made the Fire music - the waving, the hissing and the roaring of the flames and . . ."

"I remember," Jimmy interrupted. "A god did climb up the mountain and woke her up. His name was Siegfried, wasn't it, Grandma?"

"Yes, that was his name," his grandmother answered. "As you say, Jimmy, he woke the beautiful sleeping Valkyrie, Brunhilda, from her long, enchanted sleep."

"The Ride of the Valkyrie" and the "Fire Music" are Wagner's interpretation of the sounds of Nature."

-7-

"And now, Jimmy, you have seen how musicians
must go to Innerland for the inspiration of their
music. But painters have to go there, too.

"There was a great Italian painter named
Botticelli. He painted many pictures, but the
most celebrated is his faery picture called
'Spring.'"

"Can you tell me the name of a faery
story, Jimmy?" asked Grandma.

"Yes, Grandma, 'Peter Pan,'" Jimmy
answered.

"And 'Alice in Wonderland,'" added his
grandmother. Then Jimmy laughed and said:

"And 'Cinderella,' who loved a prince."

"Yes; the Prince dreamed of a beautiful
girl whose foot would fit the little slipper he
had found; and, long before he met Cinderella, he
loved her in his dreams - in Innerland."

"Where do you suppose the poets find their
poetry?" his grandmother continued. "They also
go to their innerland before they write their poems.
The great poet Shakespeare wanted to write a
faery story and he found it in Innerland. And he
called it 'Midsummer Night's Dream.'"

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"Instead of putting this dream into music, as Wagner did, he put it into a great dramatic poem which was played by men and women, who acted it in the theatre."

"I know the name of the Faery in the play, Grandma; it is Titania. I think it a very pretty name." Jimmy had a good memory. He remembered the whole story. It had seemed so real.

Jimmy and his Grandmother rocked before the big singing fire, and the little blue, red and gold flames danced up the chimney to see the moon and stars. Jimmy thought it was grand fun to listen to his grandmother explain things about Innerland, and he asked her to tell him some more.

"You know, my darling Grandson, that the roots of trees and flowers are in the earth. You cannot see them. They have to be nourished with the warmth of the sun and rain; and then they put forth wonderful green, gold and red leaves and the gorgeous flowers that beautify the earth."

"So imagination - your imagination - is the root of things created in your Innerland,"

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and fills your Innerland with thoughts that take form
in Outerland."

"Now, Jimmy," Grandma continued. "I shall tell you the story of a man whose character is little known, yet one of the greatest in the world. His name was Akhnaton; he was Pharaoh of Egypt. He did not approve of war, although he had been reared among war-loving people in the City of Thebes, full of monuments in praise of its military leaders, and statues of many gods. So he left the place of his ancestors with his beautiful wife Nefertiti and sailed up the River Nile to build a beautiful city. And he called it Tel-el-Amarna, City of the Horizon.

Most men are gifted for one art only; they are either musicians or poets, writers, painters, sculptors or scientists. But Akhnaton, the great king of Egypt, was all of these. As a fine architect, he directed the making of a city so beautiful that it looked like Faëryland. He built palaces, parks, houses for the poor people, and temples. But on the altars he did not sacrifice animal life, as they did everywhere in his day. He placed on them flowers and fruits.

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"His poems were carved on the rocks; so we know, even today, how beautiful they are. And as he was a musician, too, the poems were sung in the temples.

"The Egyptians, at that time, worshipped the sun as God. But Akhnaton told his people they must not kneel to the sun. The sun, he said, was only a great symbol of that Divine power - God. What is so wonderful is that Akhnaton was the first man to conceive of God as a great Spiritual Power of Love.

"Akhnaton said that we could not live without the warm rays of the sun; and he had carvings made on the living rocks of his beautiful wife, Nefertiti, and himself with their hands uplifted adoring the sun as a symbol of God's gift of Light; and his beautiful poem expresses this thought:

> When thou risest in the eastern horizon
> of heaven,
> Thou fillest every land with thy beauty.
> Thou bindest them by thy love.
> The barques sail up-stream and down-stream
> alike.
> Every highway is open because thou hast
> dawned."

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"Nefertiti, his wife, was a very remarkable woman. He had a sculptor carve a bust of her. This was 1300 years before the birth of Jesus; yet today this wonderfully painted bust of his great companion is considered one of the masterpieces of the world.

"Now, Jimmy dear, where do you suppose he got all those ideas so long before other men?"

"From his Innerland, of course, Grandman."

"Yes, but he made it a real land, and big boys like you can read all about it."

"It is the only Fairyland that has ever been real on earth, and the only city ever governed by Love. So you see how great was this Pharaoh, Akhnaton."

"Your nurse says that stories of faeries and Faeryland are written only for children. Now you have learned that all great artists have written stories of faeries and Faeryland for grown-ups, as well as for children. In many of these stories are hidden meanings that you will understand when you are grown up. You will then be quite sure that Faeryland is real."

"Is God in Faeryland?" Jimmy asked.

-12-

"Yes, but He is in Outerland, too."

"How can He be in both places?" Jimmy
exclaimed.

"Because God is life, and Life is everywhere,
and because God is Life there are people on earth,
trees and flowers; and this will interest you,
Jimmy, dear, all Life is moving."

"Not rocks, Grandma!"

"Yes, Jimmy, rocks move. The cliffs and
the mountains are always changing, but the change
is slow, very slow."

Jimmy drew his little feet up and curled
in his grandmother's lap, for the blue and red and
yellow flames were burning low. Grandmother went
on:

"I cannot see into your Innerland, Jimmy,
nor go to that secret, mysterious place in you
mind. It is all your own and no one can take it
from you. Nor can you see into my Innerland. But
we can tell each other what we saw and we can play
'Going Faerying' together. Shall we make a Faery
Story?"

"Yes, Grandma, you begin," Jimmy said.

"I think it would be great fun to travel

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on birds to Faeryland. You see the little gold,
blue and red fire flames. When they get up the chimney
we can turn them into great birds. Which bird
will you ride on?

"I would like the Bluebird, Grandma."

"Very well. I will ride on the Red Bird.
Quick! We must mount them before they fly away."

There in the dimness of the starry moonlight
night were the little sunbeam faery flames flying
out of the chimney. The little red flames
turned into a wonderful Redbird, and the little
blue flames turned into a wonderful Blue Bird.
Jimmy mounted the Blue Bird and his Grandmother
mounted the Red Bird. The little yellow flames turned
into a Golden Bird that threw out a glorious golden
light like a searchlight, and lighted the way.

They flew over meadow and forests and
deep seas. They heard the secrets of the wind
and they learned what the whispering leaves sang -
for leaves sing, they never talk.

You must know that when you ride on birds,
especially birds made out of sunbeams, you under-
stand all languages - the languages

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of birds of all nature.

Jimmy was quite excited because in
Outland he had never ridden a bird. It
was better than riding in an airship, and much
safer, because the engine never got out of order.
The flying gear in their wings seemed perfect and
did not make any noise. Perhaps that was because
their machinery was all covered up, and it
seemed very simple indeed. When they came to great
tall trees, the birds rose majestically over the
tops.

The Blue Bird and the Red Bird knew
just where to go, and the Golden Bird illuminated
everything. Jimmy saw all the little birds in
their nests and the mother birds and father birds
covering their little ones with their wings.

Jimmy thought their downy breasts would
keep the little ones nice and cozy like his own
down quilt on his little bed in Winter. But he thought
it must be warm in Summer, for he knew also that if
his father sat on top of him like the father-bird,
he couldn't breathe.

Then they looked down and saw a doe
with two beautiful fawns - the prettiest little

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animals he had ever seem. They had the most
delicate little legs and such large, trustful
brown eyes.

Jimmy begged the Blue Bird to stop, to
let him take another look; so the Blue Bird
circled around three times while Jimmy watched
the lovely little deer babies.

"Oh, Grandma," cried Jimmy, how I would like
to take one of them home with me!

But his Grandmother said they were not tame -
although they would be very easy to tame, for they
become gentle in an hour and let you pat their
heads. But the little ones they saw were not
tame now and their mode of expression was to kick
when displeased. So, of course, it would be difficult
to hold them while sitting on the Blue Bird.

Jimmy thought it was very late for those
little baby deer to be up, for the moon was shining;
and all little ones should be in bed when the moon
is high, except on birthdays. Perhaps this was
their birthday or perhaps they were traveling.
Then the Blue Bird and the Red Bird flew way
up above the tops of the trees and the most
beautiful music they had ever heard came to their

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ears. No one has ever heard such marvelous music,
except by riding on the top of a bird in the air.
You couldn't hear it if you climbed on top of the
very highest tower, because you have to go as high as
the birds. Even in air ships men can't hear the
music on account of the noise their engines make.
And the music is called the Harp Serenade of the
Wind to the Birds.

They flew on and on until they reached
a large river, and the Golden Bird illumined
the water so that they saw to the very bottom.
It was a strange sight for Jimmy. He had never
seen anything like it even in pictures. There
were the lovely little mermaid children. They were
merry and seemed to be having great fun tickling
gold fishes with feathery blades of grass. The
gold fishes would leap into the air. They seemed to
think it fun, too, because they were laughing. I
know, for their mouths were wide open. Jimmy
wished he could join them, but he remembered he
couldn't swim. And how could he join them if he couldn't
swim?

He asked the Blue Bird to go near, so that
he could talk to the little mermaids. One little
mermaid looked up, waved to him, and said:

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"Come and play. Tease!"

"But I haven't a beautiful shiny tail
and I can't swim," Jimmy answered.

The little mermaid threw a kiss to Jimmy
and retorted:

"But you have two tails with funny little
fingers on the end." Jimmy laughed, for he remem-
bered his legs and toes were all bare.

Then suddenly a large mermaid came with
a shiny tail and silver grey hair. Jimmy was
quite sure she was their grandmother, or the
mermaid children's nurse.

The gold fishes all swam away and dolphins
came, and the mermaid children mounted the dolphins'
backs and away, too, they went, laughing merrily.

Jimmy wanted also to ride a dolphin, but
dolphins might not be going to Innerland, and
Jimmy wanted to go to Innerland very much.

They were fast approaching Innerland now.

All at once the Blue Bird sang a beautiful song -
more beautiful than the nightingale's soft, sweet, low
tones. This song was to announce to the Faeries the
coming of Jimmy and his grandmother to Faëryland.

The three great birds dropped slowly down,
and Jimmy and his Grandmother stepped easily to

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the ground.

"What are all those little lights in the air
and on the earth?" Jimmy asked the Bluebird. "They
shine so brightly."

Then the Bluebird told him they were
only little fire-flies, with their lanterns, that
had come to escort them to Faeryland.

A great grey veil hung all about them -
delicate and woven with dewdrops - a veil like a
cobweb hung with diamonds.

Everything around was very silent..

Slowly the grey, mysterious veil lifted,
and Jimmy and his grandmother entered into Magic Innerland.

What do you think Jimmy and his grandmother
saw in Innerland? Ah, Children! that is a secret,
and Jimmy knows how to keep a secret, although he
would like very much to tell.

All little boys and girls who haven't been
to Innerland must go and see for themselves. And all
those who know Innerland, know about it, so there is
really no need to tell everything.

Jimmy and his Grandmother rocked in front
of the fire, still humming its merry song; and
more little sunbeams went up the chimney to

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see the moon and the stars.

"Dear little Jimmy," his Grandmother said,
"now we have been to Faeryland - we have been to
Innerland."

Jimmy was nearly asleep when, suddenly, he
sat up and said, with shining eyes:

"Grandma, tomorrow I am going to tell my
brother Hobart and my little sister Jane Dore that
Faeryland is real and true. I know, because you
and I....." But Jimmy had fallen fast asleep -
to dream again the wonders of Innerland.

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Now, little children, shut your eyes and
try to see things in Innerland. This mysterious land
is always yours.

Can you see Jimmy and the Great Blue Bird
flying in the moonlight to Faeryland? Can you
paint a picture with your inner eyes? Or can you
write a story or a poem?

Can you fly on the wings of thought swifter
than an airship, or did you fasten wings onto your-
self and fly in the air? Wouldn't that be fun?
Or, could you fly on the wings of a great bird to
China - India - England - France - Russia - Italy
or Spain, or to the moon and stars? Maybe you
would like to ride on a lion or on an elephant
in the forest.

Can you sing a song silently - without uttering
a sound or moving your lips; or can you listen to things
with your inner ears and hear music?

If you can do this, you have found how
to go to Faeryland - Innerland. And you can go there
any time you like, each of you, all by yourself.

Write and tell me, children dear, if you have
found how to go to this wonderful Innerland. And

NARNEEN

AND HER FAERY PLAYTHINGS.

Part I

"Will you come and play with me?" said a little brown maid, who stood on her tip-tip toes, peeping over the garden wall. She spoke to a little girl with ruffles and fluffles and lace, and golden curls and a gorgeous hat with wreathes of roses and ribbons.

The little brown maid wore a gingham frock and no hat at all, only dark brown dancing curls, little brown hands and a merry smile and a dimple.

"Will you come and play with me? I will help you over the garden wall."

Then she smiled, hereyes smiled, too; even the little dimples smiled and captivated the little girl in ruffles and fluffles and lace.

"I should like to come," said the pale little girl, "but I would ruffle and rumple my pretty lace frock and soil my hands, and my father, the King, who lives on the hill, would say, "Fie, little Elizabeth, what a naughty girl!"

-2-

Your hands are soiled and your dress all
spoiled! No lady would ever do that, you know!

But the smile of the little brown maid was
bewitching, and Pale Princess Elizabeth climbed
over the wall and fell in a dumpled, crumpled
heap, for she had never climbed a wall before.

"I hope you haven't hurt your head," said
the tender little brown maid, helping her up from the
ground.

"Nay, I haven't hurt my head at all, but
I've torn my ruffles and fluffles."

"You couldn't mend your broken head, but
you can mend your little green gown. Will you
come and play with me?"

"But where are your toys?" said the pale,
fair maid. "I see no dolls or dollies' houses;
no elephants, no pussycats, no coaches fine for
the dollies to ride in, no canary birds in little
gold cages with drinking cups of pearly shell.
You haven't even a rocking horse. You ought
to see mine. How can you play without
toys? I am going home now; I shall

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not stay with nothing to play with. I am
going to climb the garden wall."

"Take care, you'll fall," cried the little
brown maid, in alarm. If you climb the wall,
you'll hurt yourself."

Off flew Princess Elizabeth's hat with
wreathes of roses and ribbons, as she fell on
her back, trying to climb the wall; and there she
sat in a heap, forlorn with her ruffles and fluffles
all torn.

She began to weep.

"Nay, do not weep. Come, dry your eyes,
and I'll show you all my toys," said the little
brown maid, as she kissed the pretty golden head;
and then the pale Princess Elizabeth said:

"I see no toys, but if you'll come and play
with me in our castle, high on the top of the
hill overlooking the sea, I'll give you a
beautiful doll, and my little woolly white
lamb."

"The dark brown maid laughed merrily. "I
have a hundred thousand toys," she said mys-
teriously. "Here, on the ground, just at
your feet, there on the sand by the sea, in

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the meadows mid grasses sweet; in running,
dancing brooks; high up in the air; there,
everywhere; there, everywhere.

But the pale Princess Elizabeth did not
understand.

"Aren't you a naughty little girl to tell
things untrue?" Elizabeth cried, stamping her
feet upon the ground. Then, waving her hands,
she cried: "I see no toys in the air, nor
on the ground, nor anywhere - anywhere."

The brown-eyed maid gave no reply, but she
said in her simple manner: "My toys are living
things. They come from God - they're every-
where."

"Shame! shame! You mustn't tell things
untrue," cried the maid in ruffles and fluffles,
tossing proudly her head. "I am Princess
Elizabeth, and I live with the King in the
castle, high on top of the hill, overlooking
the sea. And who are you?" said she disdain-
fully.

"Who am I?" asked the merry brown maid

-5-

with a smile. "It's a secret, and only you may
hear? Come near, come very near, and I'll whisper
it softly in your ear. Sometimes I'm only a little
girl, sometimes I'm Narneen, Queen of the Faeries.

And with her skirts spread wide, like the
wings of a bird, she danced as if on air, while she
sang --

"This is how we weave our spells,
Woven in dells to the sound of silver bells.
'What a world of merriment their melody fore-
tells.
How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle
In the icy air of night.
While the stars that oversprinkle
All the heavens, seem to twinkle
With a chrystalline delight,
Keeping time, time, time
In a sort of Runic rhyme
To the jingling and the tinkling of the Bells.'"*

She stopped and pointed to the meadows beyond:

"Do you see the lilies in that Wonderfield,
under the great green trees? There the faeries
dance and sing."

Then Princess Elizabeth cried with wide
open eyes: "Perhaps it's true. I'd like to go
to Wonderfield."

*Edgar Allan Poe.

-7-

PART II

"Now, I'll show you my toys in the air."
She stretched out her arms - she called to her
birds.

"Oh, birds, my brothers, sing to me once more."

"Follow, follow and follow,
Blackbird, thrush and swallow
Arouse, arouse!" *

Then up from the ground and down from the
boughs of the trees, out of bushes and ferns
came bluejays, thrushes and swallows, robins,
wrens and cardinals, flying, dancing, hopping.

They ate from Narneen's little hands; they
hopped upon her shoulder and sang a lovely song;
one nestled in her soft brown neck.

"They won't take any crumbs from me," said
Elizabeth, tearfully. "I can't catch one. They
fly away."

They're afraid you'll put them in a golden cage.
You see, they are made to be free and sing in the
trees and fly in the air, and they always know who
loves them."

She clapped her hands and they all flew away
to their homes in the trees.

* James Stephens.

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PART III.

"Call me Elizabeth, Narneen, dear, I don't want to be Princess today." So Narneen said:

"Give me your hand, Elizabeth dear. I'll show you my toys on the sand. We'll follow wild brook running gay to the sea."

And there on the sand they made castles of shells, and parks of green sprigs, and a garden of daisies, bluebells and ferns.

They made rivers and lakes from the incoming tide, and paved them with pebbles and bright pearly shells. Then Elizabeth said:

"Lakes without fishes are no good at all."
But Narneen knew just where to find them.

"I'll show you a pool in the rocks by the sea near the incoming tide. Quick, quick, get a stone and block up that end and I'll block up this one. See! Now the fishes can't get away. But first we must make a net out of grasses and a pole from the twigs of a tree."

"Look, Narneen, what can this be, with a tail like a fish and a head like a horse?"

"A sea-horse."

"I never saw one before," said Elizabeth, laughing. "How jolly! Oh, look at those star

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fishes, little and big. We'll take them along, too,
for our rivers and lakes.

Elizabeth then pouted and looked very sad.

"What is the use of castles so fine with no
little dolls to live there?"

"I know how to make them," Narneen said
gayly. "I'll carve little dollies of potatoes
and twigs. Get me some seaweed to make flowing hair.
I'll make my brown."

Elizabeth said, "Yours will be brown, but mine
will be red, like the mermaids under the sea."

"Oh, look! said Narneen, "I've made a dress
of red lilies, yellow ones, too, with dots of brown,
and a hat of bluebells; and one has a hat of a daisy,
a coat of green leaves, and a necklace of seeds."

Elizabeth clapped her hands with joy. "That's
the prettiest doll I've ever seen - better than mine."

"Before we go to the woods," said Narneen,
"come dance with me on the edge of the sea; the sand
is as hard as a parlor floor. Pull off your stockings
and shoes."

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Elizabeth danced and laughed, and said,
"Isn't it fun to dance on the foam? I never
did that before!"

Then a very big wave rolled up from the
sea. They laughed as they ran, but the foam
caught Elizabeth's little feet and the spray
splashed her ruffles and fluffles and lace.
The wind blew her hat far out to sea, and it
sank for the mermaids to find.

Narneen could run faster and didn't get wet.

Elizabeth said, "See how funny I look,
Narneen! My feet are all covered with sand,
and my dress is all torn and slimpsy and wet;
my hair is all blown, my hat is gone. What will
my father, the King, say now? But I do not care.
I have never been so happy before. I've found
toys in the air and toys by the sea. They are
better than mine that are bought in a shop.
They're everywhere, they're everywhere!"

Narneen looked at Elizabeth's ruffles and
fluffles and lace all wet, then quickly she said:
"Give me your hand and we will run in the wind;
your dress will soon dry."

-11-

PART IV.

"You've seen my toys by the sea, little friend. Now I will show you my toys in the woods, but first we must pass through the meadows of sweet-smelling grass. Nearby is an apple tree lane. It will soon be dark - we must hurry along." She took Elizabeth's little hand, when, all out of breath, Elizabeth stopped and sank to the ground, very tired and very sad.

"I wish I were a faery like you, Narneen,
I feel very hungry, - I want something to eat."

"How would you like a picnic, Elizabeth,
dear?"

"What good is a picnic without any food?
Unless you have faery things to eat?"

"Lie down and rest on the soft green grass
by the running brook, while I gather potatoes and
fruit in yonder green fields."

Then off she flew and returned with her arms
full of potatoes and apples and pears and a great
green leaf full of berries. She made an oven
with stones and gathered some sticks for a fire
to bake the sweet apples and pears and potatoes.

-12-

"Narneen, I am rested now. What shall we do?"

"You can gather some leaves; we'll use them for plates. The flat rock near by will do for a table. Put sticks on the fire when it gets low, while I gather sticks to make chopsticks for spoons; we'll eat like little Chinese children."

Oh, this is such fun, Narneen. Leaves are much nicer than our gold plates. What are you making with those leaves and dry grasses?"

Narneen sat down by Elizabeth's side.

"I am making a bowl to put berries in. You take a leaf and in and out you twine blades of dry grasses. See what a pretty round bowl I have made. I brought shells from the shore; they'll do nicely for cups. Will you get me some water in this round shell?"

Away flew Elizabeth to the brook.

"Nay, not from the brook, Elizabeth dear. Listen,- do you hear tinkling sounds that come from a spring near by? The water is cool and clear. That's where the Faeries drink. Now we

-13-

must dress for our feast. I'll make wreathes
of these flowers and bind up your hair."

When the feast was all over, Narneen said:
"I'll show you how to make ships with bark from
the trees, a twig for a mast and a leaf for a
sail. We'll have races with them."

The ships were soon ready. One! Two!
Three! Now they are off, over little mountains of
waves, carried along with the rushing stream. But
presently they came to a bend in the brook, and
both little ships sailed up on the bank.
Elizabeth's ship came first.

"Three cheers! Three cheers!" gayly
shouted Narneen. Your little ship has won the
race."

-14-

PART V.

All of a sudden it grew dark. The sun sank down with a golden glow on the other side of the world, to watch other children play.

"I feel so tired," Elizabeth said. Before I go home, I'll lie down and rest under this great pine tree."

They fell fast asleep, and Elizabeth's dreams were of faeries and faeryland.

Just as the moon rose high in the sky, a bugle was heard; the clatter of hoofs on the road; knights dashing by on fiery steeds, and in their midst the King on his white charger.

One of the knights, the last one of all, caught sight of Princess Elizabeth's little white gown under the moonshiny trees. He blew on his bugle to summon the others as he sprang from his horse and rushed to her side.

"Oh, Princess Elizabeth, awake, awake, we have found you at last. We've searched the countryside far and near. The King's in a

-15-

temper. The Court's all alarmed. The Queen's
in a fright at the loss of her little Elizabeth."

The knights gathered around her. The King
stood alone - a frown on his forehead. Severe
was his tone when he said:

"Elizabeth, where have you been?"

Little Elizabeth awoke from her dream.
She paid no heed to the angry King and the excited
knights. She cried aloud: "Narneen, Narneen,
where are you? Oh, don't stay away. Come
back to me, Narneen, my Faery friend. I want
you to stay with me always and play with me.
You've taught me such wonderful things, you've
shown me such beautiful toys."

A knight leaned over her and gently said:
"She has quite lost her mind." And he tenderly
lifted her to her feet. But oh, what a plight
for a Princess to be in! Her little white gown,
with fluffles and ruffles and lace, was soiled
and torn. Her hat was gone, her hair hung all
around her.

The King went nearer and said, in a tone

-16-

more severe than before:

But Elizabeth paid no heed. She stood gazing
around in search of her friend, calling "Narneen,
Narneen, where have you gone?"

Again the King said: "Elizabeth, stop this
nonsense about a 'Faery Friend.' Where have
you been?"

Elizabeth did not reply, but continued to
cry: "Narneen, Narneen, can't you hear me call?"

"Shame on you, Elizabeth. Look at your
gown. It's all tatters and rags, and your
legs are all bare and your hat is gone!"

Then to one of the knights he gave command:
"Lift Elizabeth on to your horse. We must hurry
home. The Queen is waiting with anxious fears.
What will she say when she sees the Princess
Elizabeth in this shameful plight."

Her ruffles and fluffles were torn, but
little pale Elizabeth no longer was pale. Her
cheeks were like roses, her eyes shinging bright -
a look in her eyes that never shone there before.
She made them no answer, but all the way home

-17-

she cried:

"I found a dear little Faery Friend, and I
love her. Her name is Narneen, - Narneen; - She's
Queen of the Faeries."

The King locked her room with the golden key,
her room with the beautiful toys and the imprisoned
birds. But she didn't care. The sun came in and
danced on the floor, and she danced, too. And the
little Princess wandered in Wonderland, with her heart
and mind far away with Narneen. "Oh," she cried with
joy, "Narneen taught me all her Faery Playthings: How
to dance on the sand; how to roam in the woods, and
play by the running brook."

"I am going to put food for your beautiful birds,
Narneen, everyday on the garden wall; so they, too,
will love me, Narneen, my Queen of the Faeries."

And now, little children, who read this story,
when you lie and dream in the cool, green grass, and
watch cloud shadows drift and pass; when you sail
your ships on the flowing brook, or sit for a while
in a shady nook, or play in the sand by the sing-
ing sea, or hear the birds in the old apple
tree, where the playful wind shakes the blossoms

-18-

down and weaves them all in a faery crown, sparkling
with dewdrops, too -- then remember that the Princess
is playing with you, for her heart, like Narneen's,
is forever free.

...........

FOREWORD

In her style of writing the author has developed a new form of story-telling. freshly related both to poetic imagery and to natural cadences of speech. The usual conventional forms of children's verse are in metre and end-rhyme, whereas natural speech in rhythmical but unrhymed. Here the charm of both is united in style by means of combining occasional inner-rhyme with spoken rhythm. For this reason these stories are especially well adapted to reading aloud.

LITTLE LONELEAF

Belle of the Maple Tree.

CHAPTER I.

I was very little when I opened my eyes,
a wee, wee little leaf. I was the littlest
girl-leaf of all. My house was a dark brown
slender branch and I lived all alone 'way out
on the end. Little Loneleaf was the name my
mother gave me. My brothers and sisters all
were twins; and my father and mother lived
near a great rough bough.

Sometimes I was sad out there on the end
all alone, without a twin to play with me.
When Zephyrs came and played us a tune, the lit-
tle twins danced together; they kissed and
made a pretty bow, twirled back and then
whirled forward, while I twirled all alone
'way out on the end of my brown stem. When I cried
out that I was all alone, they said that
I was a pretty dancer, that I had more room,
that I should twirl faster, while my brothers

-2-

and sisters trod on each other's tender
slender little toes. And so my mother said,
"You see, things even up, my dear."

Sometimes in the dark, dark night when
there were no little candle lights burning in
the skies, and Windy was in an angry mood, his
voice was loud and harsh, and he shook me
roughly from my sleep. Then my brothers and
sisters huddled together for comfort and loved
one another, while I, in the tiny tip of my
house, trembled and shivered and shook.

One night I was cold and wet and frightened.
Windy shook me very hard; and all my tears
dropped down below, and I cried out:

"I feel very lonely and I feel very sad."
And a boy leaf from below cried:

"So do I, but I am stronger than you.
Bend down low and I will kiss and comfort you,
and I will be your friend; for neither have I
a twin brother or sister. I am alone, like you.
I am a poet, and I live on the end of a tender,
slender stem."

-3-

I shook off my tears and I bent below.
And although it was dark and I couldn't see,
I felt a soft touch and I felt a soft kiss;
and so I was comforted. And in the morning
my Mother said, "You see, it evens up, my dear.
A friend is a precious thing."

After that I was very gay; I was merry all
the day. And I was called the belle of the maple
tree.

I chanced one day to look above. A
little imp-leaf on the top of the tree, on
the very tip-top, kept waving his hand and
winking at me, waving his hand in a most
frantic manner. I smiled very charmingly
and bowed to him. Then he kissed his hand.
But that was too bold, and I wouldn't look
up again all day. He shouted out loud, so
that everyone heard, "You are very beautiful,
Little Loneleaf. You are the belle of the maple
tree."

The very next day there was a grand
ball. Zephyr played a beautiful tune, and
the moon hung out in all her gloomy, and
her children, the stars, carried wonderful

-4-

lanterns. The fire-flies, too, carried
tiny bright lights.

And my friend, the poet, wrote a tender
sonnet, all about me and the lovely night.
That is how I know he loved me. But the
lively imp-leaf on the top of the tree said,
"Drat that fellow, he is a mystic poet, what-
ever that may be! And what does he know about
life? Come dance with me!"

So I left my friend all sad and lone
And flew to the top of the tree. And we
twirled and twirled, and we hopped with glee,
and we danced in the moonlight's glow. He
said wonderful things of what he would do,
and he hardly could wait to be twirling and
whirling away. He would make love to the
fairies over meadows and dells and flirt with
the mermaids on the great deep sea. I didn't
like that, so I turned away.

Windy came now quite often, indeed. He
came in a cold, cold wave. But what cared I,
with a friend below and a lover above? My
lover donned a gorgeous green robe all spot-

-5-

ted with yellow and red, a wonderful sight to
see; and the poet, my friend below, wore a
bright red rose -"In honor of love," said he.

I was proud of him, and proud as could be, and yet
I was sad, for my little green dress never changed
its hue.

One bright cold morning something soft
and delicate touched my hand. I thought it
was my very good friend, for that was his
pretty way of saying good-day to me. But when I
opened my eyes with a tender smile and turned
with a twirl and whirl to say good-day, a butter-
fly lighted on my hand. Said he, in a mysterious
voice, "You shall have a golden wedding
dress, all gold like mine, gold like a fire-
fly's light at night, gold like the children of
the bright, bright sun who play hide-and-seek on
the brook near by." And he unfolded his wings and
flew away.

A beautiful, bright gold robe, oh, think
of that! What would my lover and friends say?
I looked above and there was that mischievous
naughty fellow waving his hand at me and

-6-

twirling and whirling and dancing with glee.
"You are a beautiful dear, some along with me!
It is time I was off. I am going to fly, and
I am going to run and whirl and twirl. Oh, it's
lots of fun! I will meet other fellows
and have races with them. I will tickle the
noses of dear little girls, and I will hurl
dust in the faces of naughty, bad boys. I will
hop over brooks and float out to sea, and I will
ride on the foaming waves. Never fear, I will soon
come back with the incoming tide and I will wink
and blink at the pretty mermaids. I will twirl
and whirl and dance with glee, and find the
faeries, if there is one to be found."

Then all of a sudden he ceased, out of breath,
and whispered, "Will you come with me, Little Loneleaf,
Belle of the Maple Tree?" and he sipped up the dew
for his morning meal.

But I couldn't take breakfast and I felt
very sad, for my dress was still green, shabby
and old.

-7-

I turned my head quickly, and oh, what a
sight! The twins were all robed in gorgeous
red robes, red as the sun sinking down to rest,
red as the light on the red rose's breast.
And my mother was robed in a bright green dress
with the tips of her feet all slippered in yel-
low.

I was too unhappy to weep or cry. I bent
my head in sad distress. But even my bver
never saw, he was twirling and whirling and dancing
so hard. He called out to me as he danced
with glee, "I shall soon be away, for I am
going to look for experience. Will you
come with me, Little Loneleaf, Belle of the Maple
Tree?"

Before I could speak, he flew in the air
with a kiss from his hand, and he twirled and
whirled so hard that he frightened a bird on
the wing, and down the bright lane he kept a
mad pace. He tickled the nose of a dear
little girl, and he ruffled the hair of a
gentle old dame.

-8-

"It's a bat," cried she, in great dismay.
And mother called out to him:

"You'll come to grief and a very sad end."

In great distress I looked around. My
brothers and sisters had all disappeared, twirling
and whirling and dancing with glee down the
bright lane. Only my mother was left. She was holding
the hand of the poet, my friend.

"He is very unhappy and sad," said she,
"and you have been unkind. He is in love
with your beautiful soul, and he doesn't mind
your dark green dress. I am going now, but
I shall soon return. Your brothers and sisters
have twirled in a ditch and I must help them
out." And she trotted away in her bright
yellow slippers.

I was alone now, and I wept very hard.
I missed the imp-leaf; he was so full of fun
and merry and gay. Then all of a sudden I
felt a kind hand. It was that of my true,
dear friend. Never a word said he, but I
knew all the same that he was waiting and

-9-

waiting for me. And I felt so ashamed.

That very same night when all was still the
butterfly visited me.

"Never mind," said he, "you are going to have
a golden dress and a lover who will be true to
you."

When one is happy, how bright the sun
seems. Oh joy, oh bliss! I awoke with a beautiful
golden robe! It dazzled me so that I could
hardly see. It was as bright as the golden butter-
fly's wings, gold like the fire-fly's light
at night, &old like the children of the bright,
bright sun, who play hide-and-seek on the brook
nearby. A bright gold robe, just think of that!
What would my dear friend say? He was smiling
and looking straight at me.

"Good mroning, dear friend," said I, do you
think you could make a poem to me in my beautiful
golden dress?" It dazzled him so that he winked
and blinked. But he smiled a sad, mysterious smile
as he answered,

"A friend in himself is a poem."

-10-

I kept very quiet and didn't reply, and
he gazed and gazed far away. After a while he
looked up and smiled,

"I have been very patient and I have been
very sad, but the battle is fought and won,
dear Little Loneleaf, Belle of the Maple Tree.
And we'll be very happy and gay, twirling and
whirling and dancing away, you in your bright
gold gown. I will show you the beautiful
rivers and streams; I will show you the beautiful
mountains and woods, the mysterious beauty
of all things on earth, on our wedding journey
under the sun and moon. And I will write
it down on a little leaf for the faeries to
find and read when our wedding journey is done."

And we twirled and whirled and danced
with glee. And we skipped down the lane on
our wedding day.

And I heard my mother remind him, when
he kissed her, saying goodbye,

PRINCESS BUTTERFLEY

and

BUZZY, THE PIRATE BEE.

The Nightingale was singing, singing
loudly, loudly from her tower on the top of
the tree. It was a call to all her friends
to gather for the Great Council of Peace.

"Help! Help!" she sang. Come one and all to save Princess Butterfly's beautiful glade.
It is being attacked by a cruel, ruthless, heartless Pirate Bee. Oh, Robin Red, fly as fast as you can and summon the King and his Wise Old Men."

"Buzzy, the Pirate Bee, her enemy, with
his warriors in their yellow jacket uniforms
and stinging swords, were attacking the Princess
Butterfly's beautiful castle, the Wonder Rose
Tree in a lovely flowery glade."

Her couch was the damask rose and her
tiny sheet the tender petals. Her perfumed
bed was sweet on summer nights. Linen

-2-

sheets laid in lavender for a queen are not
more sweet. Her throne was in the topmost
rose.

And now came Buzzy, the Pirate Bee,
and his warriors bold to capture her lovely
glade and the Wonder Rose Throne.

"Buzz, buzz, Buzz," shouted the warlike
Bee. This beautiful glade shall belong to
me. The brook, the flowers, the trees, the
birds and their nests; the ants and their
hills; sunrays and moonrays ... I'll capture
them all with my warriors bold."

And the warrior bees shouted, "We'll
capture this land for our beautiful Queen,
and here we'll settle and build our home,
and gather honey from the Rose Tree Throne."

"Shame, shame," said the Nightingale
from her tower above, "to seize the Princess
Butterfly's lovely glade when there's honeysuckle,
clover and roses beyond! Come one and all,
kind friends, to save Princess Butterfly's
beautiful home!"

-3-

Robins, Bobolinks and Bluejays came flying fast; Cardinals, Thrushes and the little Hummingbirds hurried at the Nightingale's call. The Grasshoppers, led by Skipper Hop, were the first to arrive. The Skipper shouted, all out of breath,

"You grasping, cruel, selfish bully, grabbing and stealing land that doesn't belong to you just because you are bolder and stronger than the peaceful Butterfly folk!"

"You insignificant little Hopper," said Buzzy, the Pirate Bee, why shouldn't we take all we can get for our royal beautiful Queen and her great empire; and what can you do about that?"

"I'll show you," said Skipper Hop excitedly, prancing around. Haven't you heard about the Great Owl King and his wise owl men, and the Council of Peace?"

"Where is Robin Red and our gentle Bluebird, Minister of Peace?" asked Skipper Hop.

-4-

"I sent Robin Red to summon the Great
Owl King and his wise Owl men," said Night-
ingale.

Then turning to Buzzy, Skipper Hop cried:

"He'll settle you, you Pirate Samurai Bee
and all your warriors bold. I have heard the
Great Owl King say: 'There shall be no war.
War must cease and disputes must be settled
by the Council of Peace.' I have heard -"

"You hear too much," interrupted Antony
Ant, as he passed with his load. "Follow your
nose instead of your ears," shouted he. "Strange
how some people are always arguing, talking,
hearing things, instead of minding their own
affairs. Mind your own business, say I."

Now Buzzy, the Pirate Bee, had attacked
the Rose Tree Throne while the Prince and
Princess and their butterfly knights had gone
for their morning ride on sunrays.

The Butterfly Princess was called Beauty,
Psyche, Pamphila, Best-Beloved - quite a long
name for a butterfly. But, remember, she was
a Princess, and princesses have long names.

-5-

Their glorious golden steed had carried them afar. While they were resting and sipping sweet dew, a Butterfly Knight flew toward them, all out of breath, as he struggled to say:

"Princess, your throne is in danger!
Buzzy, the Pirate Bee, is attacking the
Wonder Rose Tree, and he swears he will capture
the beautiful glade."

Then the brave knights who had traveled so fast and so far, exhausted, fell at her feet.

"Alas!" cried the Princess in great distress.
And she and her royal Prince, with all their
Butterfly Knights, flew to the Wonder Rose
Tree.

"Oh, Best Beloved, do not stay here!"
cried the Prince in great distress. "Fly
quickly, fly quickly, Beloved, to our faithful Nightingale."

But the brave Princess answered, "Nay, nay,
I will stay near thee!" When the Princess
said this, all the Butterfly Knights rushed to
protect her.

"To arms, to arms!" cried Buzzy, the

-6-

Pirate Bee. We'll capture thus glade and
the Rose Tree Throne for our great empire
and our own mighty throne!

"Buzz, buzz, buzz!" cried the Pirate Bee.
"Charge, my men, charge with me. Buzz, buzz,
buzz, I am a warrior Bee. I'm a Samurai Bee.
The sword's the thing that wins in a war.
What care I for peace and beauty, law and
order, or the Council of Peace? I'm a warlike
Bee."

And with stinging swords, Buzzy and his
warriors bold rushed on those unarmed Knights.
And many fell beneath those deadly swords.

"Just wait," cried Skipper Hop, "till the
Great Owl King comes by. He says Bees should
be busy getting honey all day. Why then do you
dethrone Psyche, Pamphila, Best-Beloved, and
destroy her home and people?"

"Tut, tut, tut," answered the Pirate Bee,
"what's the use of Butterflies; that's what I
say. What has peace and beauty, law and order
to do with me? I'm out to grab all I can!
That's my way. When I can't get it peacefully,

-7-

I'll make war."

Just then Antony Ant passed by.

"Hello, Anthony," mocked Skipper Hop,
"what have you to say?"

"Don't ask him," said the Nightingale,
"for he's too busy to see beautiful things. He
is too busy to come to the Council of Peace,
thinking only of himself."

"Hai! Hai! Hai! again mocked Skipper Hop.
"He hasn't an artistic temperament."

"Artistic fiddlesticks, sillysticks,
foolsticks," said Buzzy, the Pirate Bee.
"Poets and artists lay too much stress on
trivial things." Here he shook his mighty sword.

"We are not like poets and artists, dreaming
all day long. Antony Ant, he's the man for
me. Working all the day, he gets big money."
Then Buzzy buzzed flippantly around the Rose
Tree Throne.

"Some day, Nightingale, some small boy
will put salt on your tail and catch you. Do
you know what then will happen?"

"What will happen?" asked Antony Ant.

-8-

passing by with his load. "What's the use of
wondering always what will happen? Just go
on about your own business, the way I do; get
big pay and make big money."

But Anthony never practiced what he
preached. He always listened and heard every-
thing everyone said. He turned his head on
one side and then on the other, perfectly satis-
fied with himself.

This was too much for Windy, who had
just breezed up and heard what the Pirate
Bee said about lovely Nightingale's tail.
"Salt, indeed!" His beloved Nightingale, whose
song he had carried in his heart over woods and
meadows, had been treated in a flippant manner.

"You impertinent rascal," said Windy,
coming quickly to the rescue. Then he puffed
up his chest and blew in their faces, and Buzzy
and his Pirates nearly fell off the throne, and,
drawing forth their stinging swords, made a stab
through Windy.

"Ha! Ha! Ha! cried Windy, "you can't
kill me. I'm the magic wind."

-9-

"Hello, Antony. Back again with another
load? Crack a smile," cried Skipper Hop.

"Have you come to join the war or the Great Council
of Peace? We are waiting for the Great Owl King
and his Wise Owl Men."

Then he took a hop, skip and a jump
near Anthony, and dropped his load in fright.

"Don't hop like that," said Anthony.
"It makes me nervous. I always think that
someone has stuck a pin into you. Besides,
it disturbs one's thoughts."

"Thoughts," echoed Skipper Hop. "Anthony
thinks. Anthony thinks. I thought you never
took time to think," went on Skipper Hop.

"Now I'm a tinker of thinks, so I'm a
philosopher."

"Hoppy is showing off," said Anthony Ant,
passing again. "He doesn't know what he is talking
about."

"Ha! Ha! Ha!" They all laughed. The
Pirate Bee shouted - he always shouted:

"Explanation! Explanation!"

"All right," said the Skipper. "A tinker

-10-

is a mender - so I'm a tinker of thinks.
That settles it; I'm a philosopher." They
all looked puzzled.

"Quite true," said the English Sparrow.
My ancestors in England were great tinkers of
thinks."

"Here the Goose suddenly joined the
party. We have lots of tinkers in our old country,"
she said proudly.

"Tinkers of tins and pots! We're talking
of tinkers of thinks," sneered the Skipper; not
the same."

"Go back to Gooseland," shouted the
Pirate.

"Gooseness! I'm going to tell Mother the
way you treat me, you impudent rascal!" And off
she wobbled.

Skipper said haughtily: "Now tinkers of
thinks, like the Wise Owl King, say the world
would be better if people used their thinks.
There would be no more war, Pirate."

"What has that to do with me?" asked the
Pirate, irritated.

-11-

"A great deal," continued the Skipper.
"The young tinkers of thinks say, 'Grabbing
nations and greedy men always get left in the
and.'"

"Flip, for the Tinker of thinks, the Owl
Peace King and his funny old men; the whole
world is afraid of me and my warlike men!"

"Oh, by the way, Skipper, how old are
you?" asked Antony, passing by.

"I'm as old as I look, and when you're
not looking, I'm a tinker of thinks," said
the Skipper, casting a withering look at
Antony and the Pirate.

"Ha! Ha!" roared the Pirate, "more
nonsense! Here comes Antony back again.
Hello, silly Ass," the Pirate shouted at
Antony Ant.

"I'm not an Ass; I'm an Ant and I belong
to a very old and respected ...*

"Asinine, just the same," the Pirate inter-
rupted. Antony retorted:

"His Royal Buzziness has a Bee in his
bonnet. I don't mind what he says."

-12-

"Things are seldom what they seem,"
remarked Skipper Hop sadly. Some people are
crazy and don't look it, and others don't look
it but are crazy."

"Enough!" shouted Buzzy, irritated. "On
with the fight!

"Buzz, buzz, buzz, charge, my Men, charge
with me. I'm a warlike Bee; I'm a Samurai
Bee. The sword's the thing that wins in a
war. What care I for peace and beauty, law
and order, or the Council of Peace? I'm a
warlike Bee. On with the fight!"

But just at that moment a low cry of
pain was heard. The Princess Butterfly was
wounded, and lay under the green Fern Tree.
Prince Butterfly was bending tenderly over
her. Oh, if she should die! The beautiful,
gentle Princess. They all loved her -- that
was why she was called Pamphila. It means Best
Beloved.

Brooklet began to weep. "I would suggest,
said he, "using a few of my drops. They are
reviving and refreshing."

-13-

So, accompanied by Windy, Prince
Butterfly hurried to the Brooklet's side and
back again; and the drops proved successful.

Sunray was getting very anxious.

"I am sorry," said he, but I must leave.
I have an appointment on the other side of the
earth."

"Oh, I say, old Sunface, Shinyface, if
you will stay a couple of hours more," said
Antony Ant, "I could finish my job."

"Take a vacation, Anty," said Skipper
Hop. "The Owl King says that 'All work and
no play makes Jack a dull boy.'"

"Flip for the Owl King and his Wise Owl Men.
The whole world is afraid of me," said the bold
Pirate Bee. "His eyes are big and he sees
too much."

"I would like to oblige you," said
Sunray solemnly, addressing Antony, "but I
am always particular to keep my appointments.
Rainy is the only one who dares to interfere
with me. Besides, if I stayed, there would be
no moonlight, and what would the Faeries do?

-14-

Think how selfish that would be; and all the
little children on the other side of the earth
are waiting for me to peep into their windows.
The fact is, I have a great deal of business.
I have to make gardens grow and I have to keep
people warm and happy; and I ..."

"Some job, Sunny Bright Eyes," interrupted
Antony Ant.

Sunray paid no attention to Antony's
remark. With red lips and a graceful smile,
Sunray waved "Au revoir, until tomorrow."

"Hello! Here comes Moony!" shouted
Buzzy, the Pirate Bee. "You've just missed
Sunray, your rival. Cheer up, old sentimental,
temperamental, conceited, loony Mooney. Look-
ing for poets to write about your shiny face?
Cheer up, I say; think of the dance you will
have with the Brooklet tonight."

Ignoring this, Moony said, with great
dignity:

"Friends, I have come to attend the
Council of Peace."

At last Robin Red Breast and Blue Bird

-15-

Minister of Peace, returned, shouting excitedly:

"The Great Owl King and his Wise Owl
Men are coming!"

Buzzy, the Pirate Bee, looked a little
worried as he sat on the Rose Tree Throne,
surrounded by his warriors bold.

Nightingale now sang another song for
all true friends to come and settle the question
before the Great Council of Peace.

"Blue Bells, ring your bells so everyone
can hear."

"Hoppy, what will the Owl King say to
my song," asked Buzzy, the Pirate Bee. "The
Owl King and his Council are afraid of me. I
am only taking what I want."

Skipper Hop straightened himself and proudly said:

"The Owl King says it is well to be
useful, but not only useful; and it is well to
be beautiful, but not only beautiful; but wait
until he comes and you shall hear what he
has to say. And see what he will do to

-16-

you, Pirate, lawless, grabbing Buzzy Bee!

"You must have very good news, Skipper Hop. Owl King seems to have made a great impression on the little Skipper," said Buzzy, the Pirate Bee, puffing out his chest. "I dislike him. He is too pompous and solemn; and the eyes of his Wise Owl Men are all too large to suit me; and I don't like his ideas. I am a warlike Samurai Bee."

"All now had gathered to attend the great Council of Peace. Moony, in all her shining splendor, smiled upon them all. Various Faery phantom forms floated round and round in magic circles. Fireflies, too, flashed their tiny lights. Then they seated themselves near the Prince and Princess, waiting for the Great Owl King and his Wise Owl Men.

Everyone shouted, "Here comes the Great Owl King and his Wise Owl Men."

And the Great Owl King and his Wise Owl Men settled themselves on a bough. Then, after pondering a little, the Owl King spoke with great dignity and solemnity, and every-

-17-

one kept very quiet to hear what he would say.
He glared at Buzzy; and Buzzy, the Pirate Bee,
looked frightened at last.

"In these advanced times warsmust cease.
Buzzy, the Pirate - the warlike Bee - must leave this
glade in peace. There are fields and flowers beyond,
and enough for all in every place. Let Peace
and love abide on every side. Be friends, I say.
War existed because men didn't think. When
men understand and work together for World Peace, Love
and Peace will bind the hearts of men."

Then there was a long silence and every-
one looked at the Pirates.

"These are our commands," continued the
Wise Old King. And all the Wise Owl Men
shouted, "These are our commands."

Then the Great Owl King spoke again:

"Before the Council of Peace is over,
we call upon our dear Nightingale and all our
friends for a song." For the Wise Owl King
was very fond of music.

And this is the song they sang in clear

-18-

sweet notes:

"Princess Beauty shall never be
dethroned,
She is beauty born of Psyche,
Beloved of Sun and Moon,
Stars and brooks and rivulets
Sing her song.
Mountain tops, trees, the flowers
and birds -
All things of beauty - even unseen -
Sing to their beloved Queen."

Everyone was silent for a time.

"The Council is ended," said the Great Owl
King, and he and his Wise Owl Men flew far away
to settle other disputes.

The Prince and the Princess were married
that night under the Wonder Rose Tree. Buzzy, the
Pirate Bee, went back to his den and resolved to
be happily useful again.

The Brook and the Moon danced the whole
night long; the Bluebells chimed with their
tiny bells; then the Daisies waved their banners
bright; and the Cowslips laughed with sheer
delight. But the Ant went away to make use of
the day. Skipper Hop did a sailor's jig,
first on his little leg and then on his big.
The Faeries danced the whole night long and

# FOREWORD

## The Pearly Nautilus.

These shell fishes are real, and the stories told about them are "Believe" stories. _The Pearly Nautilus_ was supposed to be a faery tale, and it was only in 1829 ..."that the animal was known with any certainty, one having been caught alive by Mr. George Bennett, near the New Hebrides." "This," Dr. G. Hartwig tells us, "was preserved in the College of Surgeons." Since then three different species have been found to abound in other waters. He adds: "After stormy weather, as it becomes more calm, they may be seen in great numbers floating upon the surface of the sea..." sailing their little ships of pearl."

The Argonaut has been celebrated by poets, ancient and modern, as the model from which man took the first idea for a navigable vessel. When he swims, he places his sails close to his shell, according to Dr. Hartwig, and stretches his oars right before him.

*Denizens of the Deep
By Dr. G. Hartwig,
Longmans, Green & Co.

PREFACE.

This underwater story of the Pearly Nautilus
is based upon the beautiful poem

The Ship of Pearl.

This is the ship of pearl, which, poets feign
sails the unshadowed main,-
The venturous bark that flings
On the sweet summer wind its purpled wings
In gulfs enchanted, where the siren sings,
And coral reefs lie bare,
Where the cold sea-maids rise to sun their
streaming hair.

From the Chambered Nautilus by Oliver Wendell Holmes.

The Nautilus, * a beautiful shell fish
which lives in the southern seas, is supposed to have
sailed over what must have been the tepid seas.

When it wants to travel, the Nautilus
rises to the surface, puts up a fin-like sail, and
the ocean breezes carry it over the waves.

*See Foreword.*

King Nautilus Nole

by his son

The Royal Prince.

This is the story that the Poet Po of the
royal court told to me about my father, King Nautilus
Nole, who - bold and daring - sailed to Mudwasky Bay
to woo and win my mother - Nautilus Pearl.

"In days gone by," said the Poet Po,
"your father, King Nautilus Nole, was in love with
your mother, the beautiful princess Nautilus Pearl,
who lived here in Mudwasky Bay. Your mother was
the most beautiful princess ever known.

"Your father, King Nole, who was bold and
daring, came with a force of brave Argonauts and
five hundred mighty swordfish folk. They fought
their way through ocean perils until King Nole came to
Mudwasky Bay, the home of the beautiful Princess Pearl.

"I would wed the lovely Princess," said the
gallant, handsome Nautilus, swishing and swashing his
beautiful tail while lowering his sail. "Lead on
to the charming Pearl, for tonight I would wed in the

-2-

moonlight's glow.

"And," continued the Poet Po, "it was I,
with my Page, the Rainbow Darter arrayed in his
striped uniform, who led the king to the throne
of the Princess Pearl.

"Her castle was made of white coral,
and the floors were of pearly shells, and the
columns were all of amber. The Portuguese light-
bearers guarded the castle door, and their phosphor-
escent light lit all without and all within the castle
walls. Their golden dome-like hats, with streamers
hanging long, shone like the moon on silver waters
and illumined all the Bay.

"The Rainbow Darter held the curtains wide.
'The King,' he cried, 'the King!' Then King Nautilus
Nole entered boldly. Fear fell upon all in that
mighty hall - fear of the bold and handsome King,
fear of his mighty men. But before the Princess
Pearl, he bowed his haughty head.

"The King in silence gazed - gazed at the
fair Princess, as in a dream. His heart stood still.
He scarce could speak ... he, the bravest of all his
fishmen. He gazed at her eyes, so mild and fearing,
and at her lovely gown - a wonderful veil of colors
as when sky and waters meet, colors of the twilight's

-3-

rosy skies dropped down into calm blue waters;
For such was the color of the Princess' gown.

"She lay on a couch of pale seaweed, pale
as the green of the sea, pale as the pale rose
Corallines that grew in the darkest corners of her
castle walls; and at her feet were spread the
velvet fair anemones. Moss flowers grow on every
side, flowers of every hue; and the cuprissinas,
shaking out of thin cups a thousand crystal stars
that shone like the winter sky.

"Still the king in silence gazed, gazed
as if in a dream at this wonderful scene. He
gazed on the Princess Pearl and then on Phosphor."

"Who was Phosphor?" I asked the Poet Po.

"He was the Princess' page, named by me the
Morning Star."

"He gazed on the King Fish, frowning a terrible
frown, and on the Spanish foreigner, Pez de Pluma,
who was in love with the Princess Pearl. There was
Stickleback, too, who had come down to woo. O, fickle
Stickleback! He was a Turk in disguise, who had many
wives, and never failed to return in the Spring in
his brilliant coat, courting to win as many more as
he could. He was a lively, handsome young fellow,

-4-

quite proud of his name that had been just the same
for ages and ages. But never a chance would any of
them have to woo or to wed the beautiful Princess
beside the brave King Nautilus Nole."

"Because my father was the bravest of
them all?"

"The bravest," said the Poet Po, going on
with his story: "At the feet of the Princess
sat Tunny, called Funny Little Sunny. Then there
were the court fools, Pickerel of the Piker Poke, and
Pike, the Pick of the Pack."

"Why did they call them 'Piker Poke' and
'Pick of the Pack' - such funny names - Poet Po?"
I asked.

"You could see by their eyes that they would
have liked to pick him and to pike him. But a terrible
fear, feared they, - these droll fish folk, of the bold
King Nole, who came to Mudwasky Bay. So never a word
said they, for they feared for their lives."

"Oh, I know those droll fish folk," I inter-
rupted. "Then what did my Mother do?"

"At the Princess' side were the Sunfish folk,
the lords and ladies of the court. They came every
Spring to display their gorgeous clothes in their
iridescence.