100 Nature Myths and Stories.

arms and kissed him and begged him to teach him
his secret.

Hermes was glad to be so easily forgiven. He
gave Apollo the lyre and taught him many ways to
play upon it. Apollo was soon able to make even
sweeter music than Hermes, and he afterwards
became the god of music.

He was so thankful to Hermes for his gift that
he gave him a wonderful rod called the caduceus.

Whatever Hermes touched with the rod became
wise, loving and unselfish. One time he saw two
hissing serpents about to spring at each other in
fury.

He touched them with the caduceus. Instantly
they twined themselves lovingly around the rod
and never again left it.

Apollo also gave Hermes charge over all the cows
in the blue meadow. Hermes loved the cows and
often took them with him on his journeys.

He was a wild youth and a great traveler, and so
it happens that in nearly all the countries of the
world Hermes and his white cows have been seen.