For Little Children—FPersephone. 51

She searched all the earth for her child. She
_ asked every one she met these questions, “Have.
you seen Persephoner Where is Persephonep”

The only answer she ever received was, “Gone,
gone, Persephone is gone!”

Demeter became a wrinkled old woman. No
one would have known that she was the kind
mother who had always smiled on the people.

Nothing grew on the earth and all was dreary
and barren.

Demeter said that she would do nothing until
Persephone returned to her.

It was useless for the people to plow the soil.

It was useless to plant theseeds. Nothing could
grow without the help of Demeter.

All the people were idle and sad.

When Demeter found no one on earth who could
tell her about Persephone, she looked up toward
the sky. There she saw Apollo in his bright
chariot. He was not driving as high in the sky as
he was wont to do.

Often he gathered dark mists about him so that
none saw him for many days.

Demeter knew that he must know about Perse-
phone, for he could see all things on earth and in
the sky.

Apollo told Demeter that Hades had carried
Persephone away and that she was with him in
his underground home.