WASSA GOES TO FAIRYLAND. 103

sidering the large mouthful of “grubs on
toast” that he was eating. Then, raising his
voice, he called out : —

« Will-o’-the-wisp, we bid thee bear
Through all our paths this maiden fair.
And, maiden, this fact know thou well,
O’er all things here is fairy spell,

And everything reflects, thou'lt see,

The good or bad that dwells in thee.
Then take with thee what thou lik’st most,
While I return to grubs on toast.”

Thus saying, the king resumed his repast
with great relish, and Wassa looked about her
for the guide whom the king had ordered to
attend her. Lightly bounding toward _ her,
and swinging his lantern gayly, came a Will-o’-
the-wisp whom Wassa had often seen floating
over the meadows, and whom she had vainly
tried to overtake.

“Come on, come on, no time to waste,
So follow me as best thou mayst,”

called out the wisp, as he darted into one of
the passages that led from the king’s banquet

hall.
“First of all,” said Wassa; “show, me the