Page 569 - Child's own book

they remained together the whole day. Towards evening, the
others returned ; and when the sun had set, they resumed their
natural shape.
(1 To-morrow, we must fly away,** said one of them., “ and
may not return till the expiration of a whole year. Yet we
cannot leave you thus. Have you the courage to accompany
us ? My arm is strong enough to carry you through the forest,
and why should not the wings of us all suffice to bear you across
the ocean." 1,1 Yes, do take me with you,” said Elise,
They spent the whole night in making a net with the pliant
hark of osiers and ropy sedges ; and the net proved large and
strong, Elise lay down upon it, and when the sun rose, and her
brothers were changed to swansi, they took up the net with
their beaks, and flew up to the clouds with their beloved sister,
who was still fast asleep. As the sunbeams fell right upon her
countenance* one of tbe swans hovered over her head to shade
her with his broad wings.
And they flew on—on— on t away—away, over the broad seas
—morn passed away—afternoon came and passed, and at sunset
they had arrived at the mouth of a large cavern.
“ Now we shall see what you will dream about to-night,"
said, the youngest brother, as he showed bis sister her
chamber.
* Heaven send that I may dream how to save you J* aaid
she; and this notion busied her intently* and she prayed
heartily to God to help h<;r,—so heartily, indeed, that she con­
tinued praying in her sleep- She then thought she was flying
up through the air, to the fairy MoTgiana's castle of clouds;
and the fairy came forth to welcome her, in ail her beauty aci
splendour, yet resembling, withal, the old woman who hadgivta
her the berries in the forest, and told her of the swans with gpM
crowns on their heads.