CisLeVPanals, OW,

ABOUT FEATHERPATE AND THE MARBLE HALLS—-AND MR.
PENALTY AND HIS ROD.

  
   
 

 

ZL 3"
VG ee,
BNE [SS

 
 

UTTERCUP felt himself pushed out of the little
cottage ; the door was slammed with a loud noise
behind him. He was alone on a bitter winter’s
afternoon, the snow lying thickly on the ground
and a dull sky overhead.

“What are you loitering for?” shouted Mrs.
Discipline from the window. “If you are not quick
the night will fall before you reach my father’s house.
It is very dangerous for little boys like you to be out
at night, for that is the time when the Wild Men of
the Woods come out. Don’t delay a moment, Butter-
cup; start on your journey, or you will be in real danger.”

“ But am I not in danger now?” asked Buttercup.

“No; you have a disagreeable thing to do, but if you do it at
once nothing bad will happen.”

Mrs. Discipline’s tone was quite bracing. Buttercup walked down
the path from the cottage, and saw, to his surprise, that the green
ribbon of grass was visible, also that it led straight to the foot of the
steep hull.

He placed his little feet upon this narrow ribbon, and immediately
felt cheered and comforted. Thoughts of his mother and of Primrose
visited him and filled his heart with fresh courage. At last he reached
the foot of the hill. Here, to his surprise, he saw a pretty boy,
dressed in blue and silver, waiting for him. The boy laughed when he
saw him, and said in a cheery, though somewhat impudent, tone-—

  
 

NS