6 CHRISTMAS IN SWITZERLAND.

with their beautiful foliage that the rays of the sun could
scarcely force their way through in the brightest summer day;
but underneath the boughs it was right pleasant to walk, for
there you found beautiful shade, and the mossy turf beneath
your feet was as soft as velvet. And when the calm, pale
moon shed her mild rays over the earth, peeping in through
the thick foliage, she gave a quiet, holy light to the wood here
and there, and you felt as if you were in some sacred spot,
where you were inclined to speak in whispering tones, lest you
should disturb the solemn silence of the place- 5

One tree — much larger than most of its companions — stood
in the middle of the wood. It was very old, but yet it was not
quite hollow, for its wood was stout and tough. Its great roots
ran out on all sides of it, and you could not look upon it with-
out confessing at once that it was a Royal tree. And in the
crown of this tree dwelt the loveliest little Fairy that any one
had ever set eyes upon. She was about seven inches high, of.
perfect face and form, and with a queenly look about her which
inspired respect, just as her beauty and sweet manners com-
pelled people to love the very sight of her.

But that forest was her kingdom, and that tree was her
palace, and she wore the lightest, prettiest dress you can
imagine. Her greatest pleasure was to do good wherever she
could. If any of the animals in the forest were hurt, they
would often. come moaning up to the tree, and seldom, indeed,
was it that they did not receive assistance; and many of
the poor people who lived near that forest had felt the kind-
ness of the Fairy, and had had pieces of good luck happen to
them, which you may be very sure were all of her doing. 5

She usually drove about the forest in a little wicker carriage,
drawn by six squirrels; and it was the prettiest sight imagi-