50 Nature Myths and Stortes

As they left the light, Hades tried to comfort
Persephone.

He told her of the wonders of his kingdom. He
had gold and silver and all kinds of precious stones.

Persephone saw gems glittering on every side
as they went along, but she did not care for them.

Hades told her how lonely he was, and that he
wished her to be his queen and share all his riches.

Persephone did not want to bea queen. She
longed only for her mother and the bright sun-
Shine.

Soon they came to the land of Hades.

It seemed very dark and dismal to Persephone,
and very cold, too.

A feast was ready for her, but she would not eat.

She knew that any one who ate in Hades’ home
could never return to earth again.

She was very unhappy, though Hades tried in
many ways to please her.

Everything on the earth was unhappy, too.

One by one the flowers hung their heads and
said, “We cannot bloom, for Persephone has gone.”
The trees dropped their leaves and moaned, “Perse-
phone has gone, gone.”

The birds flew away and said, “We cannot sing
for Persephone has gone.”

Demeter was more miserable than any one else.
She had heard Persephone call her, and had gone
straight home.