SUMMER LAND. 179

Long before the words of the song were finished Buttercup
found himself dancing with the others, and joining in the music,
and shouting as merrily as anyone else. Winter Land, with its
coldness and darkness and sadness, seemed miles and miles away
from him—it seemed to him already as if he had always lived
in Summer Land, and always known the beautiful children who
surrounded him now.

“Let us bring him into the bower and tell him about the
Prince,” said a beautiful little girl, who went by the name of Rose-
Bloom. “He must join us, you know, in, sending a request to the
Prince. Bring him into the Forget-me-not Bower, Sweet-Content,
and let us tell him what we must do, and how very important it is.”

“Come with me, Buttercup,” said Sweet-Content. She took his
hand, and led him into a beautiful bower covered with blue forget-
me-nots ; and the other children followed. There were about thirty
children’ in all; but Buttercup, looking out, could see hundreds and
hundreds of others chasing each other through the meadows ; he
could hear their merry laughter and the gay tones of their young voices.

“We are what is called a ‘deputation, ” said Rose-Bloom,
beginning to speak, and standing up, so that all her companions
should see her better. ‘‘ There are thousands of children in Summer
Land, and they can’t all come into Forget-me-not Bower; but we
are chosen from among them to do what is necessary, and as you
are a new-comer, Buttercup, you are allowed to joi us. This is
a most important meeting. Shall I tell you what it is about?”

‘“ Please,” said Buttercup.

“ Sit near me, darling Buttercup, and hold my hand,” said Sweet-
Content. “Oh! I do hope that you are one of the children who will
stay a very long time in Summer Land.”

“ Hush!” said Rose-Bloom. ‘‘ We must always leave that to the
Prince, you know, and there is a better country even than this.”

“You mean the country beyond the Blue Mountains,” said
Buttercup. “My father and mother live there, and my _ brother
Clover and my sister Cowslip have gone there; and my dear darling
sister Primrose has reached that country before now too, I expect.”
2

Ls