Page 602 - Child's own book

gave her bcautifuJ clothes. Then Maia trembled with fvar>
for she could not tell whete she was ; hut the lady said, {* Take
courage, dear child— come with me, and I will show thee thy
companions—and she opened a door which Jed into another
hall larger than the first; it was lighted by one bright diamond
which shone from the roof tike a dazzling star. Many children
were playing in this hall. Boys were riding on pretty wooden
horses which ran along of their own accord. Girls had great
dolls which could walk like real people, and these dolls had
their tiny houses, with tables and chairs* and sofas, and curtain*
to the windows. Birds of Paradise with beautiful tails flew
from bough to bough of the tali palm-trees* Splendidly
coloured butterflies flitted from flower to flower. Gentle
gazelles trotted up 3nd down the hall, and put their heads
through the windows of the baby houses, or licked the hands
of the children. The little girls whom Maia had first seen
invited her to play with them ; she joined them timidly at
first, but soon she was happy as any of them there.
At length Maia remembert-d that her dear brother Harry
would be seeking for her in vain, and that her beloved parents
would be anxious to know what had become of her, and tlwse
thoughts made her look very sad,—-t4 Why do you grieve, my
child 1 IJ asked the kind lady,—** I wish to go home, ” replied
Maia.—“ Choose a plaything then as a rememhrance of your
visit here, and I will show you the way, said theJady.— Maia
looked all round, and at last took up a little crystal that was
lying on the floor. u Thia will not do,” said the lady,*1 I
must give you something better;1* and she placed in Maia a
hands a most beautiful little basket cut out of bright green
stone iu the form of acanthus leaves. Maia thanked her, and
after saving good-bye to aU the little children, she followed
the kind lady, who opened a door m the wall through which
a Q 2