138 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

“T am very tired.”

“Never mind. Try and keep on, if you can. We shail have
lots of time for resting after we get to the end of our journey.”

Martha was not naturally so strong or so brave as Primrose,
and she leant against her little companion a great deal.

The children followed the silver path during the greater part
of the night. Just when the morning broke they saw in front of
them a lovely palace, built of pure white marble, on which the
rays of the rising sun now shone with great brilliiancy. The
windows of the palace were burnished, so that they reflected the
rays of the sun like so many dazzling jewels. Martha clasped her
hands in delight at this sight, and Primrose laughed with joy.

“ Let us go up to the palace,” said Martha, “and ask the kind
people who live in it if we may go inside and rest for an hour or
two; for I do not think I can really walk another step, Primrose.”

“It is very early to disturb them,” said Primrose. ‘“ Most
people are sound asleep in their beds at this hour.”

“ But not the people in the White Palace,” exclaimed little
Martha suddenly. “ Look, Primrose, do look! There are some
ladies walking down the silver path to meet us.”

Primrose stood still when she saw these ladies; her heart
began to beat quickly. The four lovely sisters held each other’s
hands as they floated rather than walked down the silver path to
meet the children.

“Welcome, thrice welcome, little strangers!” they exclaimed ;
and then they surrounded Primrose and Martha, and brought them
up to the palace, singing a sweet song as they went :—

“ Welcome! for the prize is won ;
Toil and travel now are done ;
Pain igs over, sorrow past:
Wanderers, you may rest at last !

“Weary was the way, and long,
But your hearts were brave and strong :
Those who truly strive aright,
They shall conquer in the tight.