THE CHILDREN’S WELL. 595

gave her beautiful clothes. Then Maia trembled with fear,
for she could not tell where she was ; but the lady said, “ Take
courage, dear child—come with me, and I will show thee thy
companions—and she opened a door which Ied into another
hall larger than the first ; it was lighted by one bright diamond
which shone from the roof like a dazzling star. Many children
were playing in this hall. Boys were riding on pretty wooden
horses which ran along of their own accord. Girls had great
dolls which could walk like real people, aud these dolls had
their tiny houses, with tables and chairs, and sofas, and curtains
to the windows. Birds of Paradise with beautiful tails flew
from bough to bough of the tall palm-trees. Splendidly
coloured butterflies flitted from flower to flower. Gentle
gazelles trotted up and down the hall, and put their heads
through the windows of the baby houses, or licked the hands
of the children. The little girls whom Maia had first seen
invited her to play with them ; she joined them timidly at
first, but soon she was happy as any of them there.

‘At length Maia remembered that her dear brother Harry
would be seeking for her in vain, and that her beloved parents
would be anxious to know what had become of her, and these
‘thoughts made her look very sad.—* Why do you grieve, my
child?” asked the kind lady,—*I wish to go home,” replied
‘Maia.— Choose a plaything then as a remembrance of your
visit here, and J will show you the way,”
looked all round, and at last took up a li
lying on the floor. “This will not do,” said the lady, I
must give you something better ;” and she placed in Maia’s
hands a most beautiful little basket cut out of bright green
stone in the form of acanthus leaves. Maia thanked her, and
after saying good-bye to all the little children, she followed
the kind lady, who opened a door in the wall through which

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