24 WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. {1

 

things that ever have happened certainly this is the
strangest. The birds all seem to say the same thing,
but yet none of them seem to think it necessary to
tell us what to do in order to obtain the success which
they foretell for us.’

‘ Suppose we ask one of them ?’ suggested Pettina,
who was not without natural acuteness, and being
young and innocent, had an idea that the best way to
obtain information was to ask questions of those who
possessed it.

Malvina raised no objection to this view of the
case, and accordingly they both looked round, and
presently perceived a woodpecker crawling quietly up
a tree and preparing himself for a little tapping
amusement.

‘Mr. Woodpecker,’ said Malvina in a courteous and
reassuring tone,—‘ Mr. Woodpecker, could you, would
you tell us how we ought to proceed so that we may
get back our lost brother ?’

‘T don’t know everything,’ sharply returned the
bird thus addressed. ‘I know something about it,
but not enough; ask the squirrels? It’s a good job
you have come, though. Well done, Rindelgrover!’
and so saying, he resumed his tapping with much
enthusiasm.

At this moment Pettina observed a hare sitting
on the opposite bank of the stream, nibbling the
young grass and enjoying itself after the innocent
fashion of such animals. ‘Puss,’ cried the Princess
immediately, ‘please tell us how we can find our
brother, and what we ought to do next?’

The hare started at the voice, as if she had not