The Fairy Godmothers. 3

invited to attend at them as Godmothers, in order
that they might beftow Fairy gifts on the different
infants.

Four or five of the chriftenings were to take
place the next day, and the Fairies who were going
were difcuffing with each other what gifts they
fhould beftow, and as their only object was to en-
{ure the happinefs of the children for whom they
were interefted, they naturally fell into a difcourfe
as to what gifts were moft likely to have fo charm-
ing an effect. “ Your Godchild is a girl too, I be-
lieve,” faid Euphrofyne to Janthe [Fairies are pri-
vileged, you know, to have romantic names]
“‘ what do you think of beftowing upon her?”
“‘ Why,” anfwered Ianthe, “ the old ftory, I fup-
pofe—BEAUTY: at leaft fuch was my intention,
but if you can any of you fhow me I am wrong in
fuppofing it a caufe of happinefs to the mortal
race, why, I fuppofe I muft give her uglinefs in-
ftead.”

“ Sifter, I hope you will do no fuch thing,”
murmured a young Fairy who lay near twining
feaweeds into a wreath. “I never until this
evening heard a doubt upon the fubje&, and to
tell you the truth the only time I ever envy a
mortal is when I fee a regular beauty enter a large
aflembly. Oh, the triumph of that moment!
Every eye turned upon her; murmurs of admira-
tion, not unmixed with envy, greeting her as fhe
fweeps along; every one courting her acquaintance ;
a word, a {mile of hers more valued than a pearl