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QHEERFULNESS AND GLOOM. © 93

songs of the birds were hushed ; the flowers
drooped and died. Dark clouds hung in
the sky; the rivers ceased. to flow; the air
was filled with sleet and hail; all around was
desolate and spoke of sorrow.

« What think you of it?” said the Ogress.

“It is fearful,” said the Fairy.

‘¢But thou hast seen only a part,” said
the other. ‘Go with me to the mountains,
and see the avalanche: go with me to the
icy poles, where the sun is banished for half
the year; and then thou mayst judge of my
power.” ' |

“J doubt it not—yet I would mot possess
thy gifts,” said the Fairy. “Go, ask the
things that feel, and let them choose between
my power and thine.”

« Let me see thy gifts,” said the Ogress.

The Fairy waved her wand, and the scene
waschanged. The balmy air of spring came
over the landscape,—the azure sky shone
above the mountains; the murmur of waterfalls
came soothingly upon the ear; the music of
birds stole out from the grove; the blossoms
gemmed the fields; sweet odours were wafted
on the breeze! The Fairy looked at the Ogress,