white; and the tears, as they formed, froze on her
long eyelashes. She would have sunk on a snow-
drift and died, had she not seen, up high on a
rugged hill-top, a blazing fire. Towards it she
made her way, and found it to be the same she had
seen before. Round about, solemn and silent, sat
the Twelve, and the Ice Month was on the seat of
honour, clasping the staff of power.

‘Dear, good friends, please suffer me to warm my-
self a little while at the fire,’ she asked, in suppli-
cating tones ; ‘for, indeed, I am perishing with cold.’
Then the one with the long white hair and frosty
beard raised his head, and said: ‘Yes, child, ap-
proach; but what brings you here?’

‘I am seeking ripe apples,’ she answered.

‘Ripe apples! It is not the time for ripe apples,
when the snow lies deep?’

‘Ah, sir! I know that well; but sister Helena and
mother have bidden me bring them ripe apples, or
they will strike me dead. You, kind shepherds, tell
me where I may find ripe apples.’

Then the Ice Month arose from his seat, stepped to
one of the elder men, put the staff into his hand,
and said—

‘Brother September, take thou the pre-eminence.’
Then the Month September sat himself on the
chief stone, and waved his staff over the fire.
Whereat it glowed like a furnace, red and fierce;
sparks flew about, and volumes of glaring hot
smoke, like the vapour of molten metal, rolled up
-to heaven. In a moment the snow was gone.
The trees were covered with sere leaves; the oak
foliage was brown and crumpled, that of the ash
yellow as sulphur; other trees seemed leafed with
copper. Stray leaves floated past and were whirled
by little wind-eddies into rustling heaps. A few
yellow flowers shook in the hot air. Pinks hung
over the rocks, covering their faces with wandering
shadows. Ladyfern waved and wafted its pleasant

75

PRETTY
MAR-
USCHKA