THE LAND OF THE AFTER-GLOW. 1A
huge tree was Judge Owl, the wisest and most
experienced of birds. As he turned his great
yellow eyes upon the brown beetle, that mod-
est little creature felt that he had indeed taken
a great liberty in presenting himself before
such a powerful personage.

“What is thy business?” demanded the
judge in solemn tones, after he had stared so
long at the brown beetle that the poor little
creature was frightened out of his wits.

“Wilt thou be kind enough to tell me if it
says in the ‘Laws of the Woods’ where the
land of the After-glow lies?” said the little
beetle timidly.

“What hast thou to do with the land of the
After-glow, pray?” asked the judge sternly.

“The little man in gray dwells there,” re-
plied the brown beetle meekly.

“ Dost thou mean to say that thou hast the
audacity to seek the little gray man?” asked
Judge Owl.

‘‘ The spirit of the dell told me to go to him,”
answered the brown beetle; and he related how
Wassa had been decoyed into the cranberry bog
by the mischievous Will-o’-the-wisp, and ex-
pressed his determination to obtain aid for her.