SUMMER LAND. 173

guessed that the country to which he was going must be very beautiful
and pleasant to be in, he decided to waste no time, but to go over the
bridge without delay.

The instant he set his feet on it his fears vanished; he found that
it was much stronger than it looked, and, in high spirits, he stepped
briskly across.

At the winter side of the bridge it was dark, cold, and foggy, but
at the summer side the sun was shining, and an exquisite and balmy
_ air fanned the little fellow’s cheeks.

He had never felt anything so delicious as this air in his
life. He felt his heart beating with delight, his eyes began to
shine with joy, and a bright colour came into his cheeks.

He had scarcely set his feet on the other shore when a girl
in white, about his own age, came up to him.

“T have been waiting for you,’ she said, in a voice which
sounded like a silver bell. “I knew you would come to-day.
You will play with me, won’t you? You are to be my own
playmate, and I am so glad. I just wanted someone to play with
to make me perfectly, perfectly happy.”

“T shall love to play with you,’ replied Buttercup. ‘“ What
a dear little girl you are! and how pretty! What is your name?
It makes me happy even to look at you.”

“Everyone says that about me,” replied the little girl. “ But
take my hand now, for you must be tired. All the people who
come from Winter Land are tired. Come, let us sit in this bower
and eat fruit.”

“But I should like to know your name first,” said Buttercup.

“T am called Sweet-Content. I have lived in Summer Land
for a long time, and I am often sent down to the stream to
welcome the boys and girls who come over from Winter Land.”

“You will soon have to bid me good-bye,” said Buttercup.
“JT am only allowed to spend one hour here to-day.”

“You will come again to-morrow, and then you will have a
longer time. Don’t let’s think about the parting yet. Come and
sit in this shady bower, and I will bring you some peaches.”