8 The Fairy Godmothers.

-“ Remember,” faid Ambrofia, from behind, “ it
is a choice with poor mortals between heavy foot-
walking, and the lumbering vehicles you talk of.
Perhaps when their legs ache terribly, the carriages
are no fuch bad things. We can hardly judge
difpaffionately in fuch a matter, we who can float
and fly!” and the delicate Ambrofia, fpringing
up, floated foftly round the bay, and then returned
fmiling to her companions. ‘ It made me almoft
ill to think of aching legs,” obferved fhe, “ how I
do pity the mortal race ! ”

“ How pretty you looked as the fun fhone
golden upon your white robe,” exclaimed Leila,
‘ It was a fight for a mortal painter to die of !”

‘¢ A genius for painting would be a grand Fairy
gift,” obferved Ianthe.

“ Too doubtful of fuccefs,” anfwered Eu-
phrofyne, ‘“‘ and the Mufician’s power the fame ;
befides muficians’ always die young and with ex-
haufted minds. ‘The art is too much for mortal
nerves,”

“¢ Their atmofphere is too thick,” faid Leila.
“ How tired I am of your difcuffions! Let us
fing ! Whatever mufic may be to them, it is food
to us.”

Then all thofe beautiful Fairies arofe and join-
ing hands on the rocks they fang to the now dying
Sun a chorus of Fairy Land! Now and then thefe
ravifhing melodies are permitted to reach to mortal
ears : chiefly in dreams to the fick and forrowful,
for Fairies have great compaffion on fuch, and