6 The Fairy Godmothers.

obferved the Fairy from behind, whofe name was
Ambrofia. ‘I can’t endure men on that very
account. Look at the grubby wretched lives
they lead in counting-houfes and banks, and dread-
ful dingy holes and corners of great towns, where
we would’nt fet the foles of our feet, and this for
forty or fifty years, perhaps, in order that in the
fifty-firft, or perhaps later ftill, they may turn into
butterflies for the little bit of life that is left to
them. And fuch butterflies, too! not knowing
what to do with their gay coats and fine wings
when they get them at laft.”

‘¢] think you are putting an extreme cafe,”
obferved Euphrofyne. ‘‘ Though the grubs them-
felves may not thoroughly enjoy the riches they
have fo laborioufly acquired, their children: ox
grandchildren may, and live at eafe and enjoy

them. I fhould not think of beftowing great ©

riches on uneducated paupers. But it is ano-
ther matter to give them to people whom edu-
cation has refined, and who would know how to
enjoy and employ them.”

“© wonder,” fuggefted'a very little Fairy,
fcarcely grown to her full fize, “ why you don’t
juft give your Godchildren moderate good health,
and enough money to make them quite comfort-
able without puzzling them ?”

“You are a complete Solomon,” obferved
Euphrofyne, “ but you muft know, my dear, that
moderate good health and a mere comfortable
competency would hardly be confidered Fairy gifts