LITTLE MAJA. 541

straits he had endured, as it made him feel the full depth of
the happiness that awaited him; and the larger swans swam
round him, and stroked him with their beaks.

Some little children now came into the garden, and threw
bread crumbs and corn into the water; and the youngest cried,
“There isa new one!”’ The other children were delighted
too, and repeated, ‘ Yes, there is a new one just come!” and
they clapped their hands, and capered about, and then flew to
their father and mother, and more bread and cake was flung
into the water, and they all said, “The new oncis the prettiest ;
so young, and so lovely!” and the elder swans bowed before
him, He then felt quite ashamed, and hid his head under his
wings. He did not himself know what to do; he was more
than happy, yet none the prouder, for a good heart is never
proud. He remembered how he had been pursued and made
sport of, and he now heard everybody say he was the most
beautiful of all beautiful birds. “Even the elder bush bent its
boughs down to him in the water, and the sun appeated so warm,
and so mild; he then flapped his wings, raised his slender
neck, as he cried in the fulness of his heart : “ I never dreamt
of such happiness as this while I was an ugly duckling!”

 

 

LITTLE MAJA.

Tnere once lived a woman who wished for a very little
child, but she did not know where to find one; so she went to
an old witch, and said, “I should so like to have a little child,
can you tell me what I should do to find one?” “Oh! that’s
easy enough,” said the witch, “there is  barley-corn, it is