or, The Silver Skates 327

and to spare, so he shall,—- bless him! Is it not so, Hans?
Sit by, children, sit by.”

That night Annie fell asleep, wondering whether it was a
knife Hans had lost, and thinking how funny it would be if
he should find it, after all.

Hans had scarce closed his eyes, before he found himself
trudging through a thicket: pots of gold were lying all around ;
and watches and skates and glittering beads were swinging
from every branch.

Strange to say, each tree, as he approached it, changed into
a stump; and on the stump sat the prettiest fairy imaginable,
clad in a scarlet jacket and blue petticoat.