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place with light, a ship of silver, crescentshaped, without mast or sails or rudder, and yet floating on the air, close by the hoaryheaded mariner.

"Come! sail with us, Daniel," he heard from a voice, and wondering, but nothing loth, old Daniel stepped aboard and away sailed the silver ship through the air. He was not alone; for as he sat, feeling a gentle warmth steal through him there, he saw bright figures all about, and one, more beautiful than the rest, who had called him to the ship and now stood beside him. It was Neonetta, the fairy of New Year's night; this was her silver ship, and these her attendants. The light grew brighter, and Daniel's eyes got more open, for everything now was distinct. They had left the dingy earth; that and the old year had gone off together; they were sailing over a sea of cloud which lay in billows beneath, while above the bright stars were shining. There was no wind to chill, and yet the ship sped on, cutting her way over the billowy clouds.

But what were all the little attendants doing? Wonderful works they were at, to be sure, for, looking behind, Daniel saw a bright train of them, reaching over the ship's side and receiving from little hands glittering balls

of every hue; they tossed them as if in merry sport, and a shower of the balls shot across the silver ship. But beyond in the prow was another train of bright fairies, leaning over the side and flinging down the balls into the deep. Once, looking at the wake, the clouds parted, and Daniel saw that the train reached far down in a brilliant flowing line; he could see them flinging up the little balls, which grew brighter and brighter as they neared the ship; but, strange to say, as they shot along to the fairies at the prow, they clung together, and, from glittering balls of every hue, they became starry forms of pure white. "These are the white star-makers," said Neonetta, smiling, as old Daniel looked wonderingly at her. "They are busy now, for we are sailing to a new land, in which I am to be queen, and the white stars are to decorate the country. Are you not weary of the old earth and the bare trees and ragged ground?" Daniel nodded vehemently. "Yes, yes," he mumbled, but could not hear himself speak. "Well," she continued, "that is gone. I knew you were weary of it, and so I am taking you to my home. O, it will be glorious there, so pure and still!" The little lady waved her hands and faster flew the bright balls, while the white stars danced through the air, as if they, too, were glad.

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"What house shall we live in, Daniel ? asked Neonetta, dancing about him. "Shall it be in one with shining spires and glittering domes, with stars for windows and crystals for doors?

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Let us have a good fire," mumbled Daniel, who at this moment felt the wind from Neonetta's robe.

"No, no," she cried, looking faint; "but we will have a soft white carpet, and, when we walk abroad, soft white mantles over our shoulders. But what shall we have to eat, Daniel? We will pluck the boughs and shake off the sweet fruit that grows on the evergreen. And then the music and the pictures! Music so sweet, that it is like the chiming of distant bells, and such pictures as never were seen on the old, dingy earth." Again the little lady flung up her tiny arms, and danced over the silver ship. Faster flew the white stars, and the long train of fairies ascended and descended in a flowing line of changing light. The silver ship sped on, and now the billowy clouds grew thinner, while above, the stars that had shone, one by one went out before a clearer light which began to spread and spread over the sky.

"The new land!" cried Neonetta, dancing

about old Daniel, who was now peering over the ship's side. "Come with me out of my silver ship," and she reached her hand to him. He looked around the shining fairies had vanished, but Neonetta was by him. He looked once more. Neonetta was gone, and at the same moment vanished the silver ship. Old Daniel sprang up. It was dark about him, but his old legs bore him, half groping, toward an opening of light. He looked beyond, and there, far away in the distant sky, was sailing the silver ship, now turned to gold. In crescent form, it was floating in the air and sailing away, away, growing fainter and fainter. He looked about him, and found himself in the new land, for instead of the old, dingy earth, there was a pure, white soil, stretching away in gentle ridges. Instead of the naked trees, which he had left in all their dismal barrenness, here were fair trees, laden with white foliage, their boughs weighed down with the heavy white fruit. He turned and looked behind him. There stood a little house, all dressed in white, with a white robe flung over it, that hung down from the roof and over the window top. He looked above and beyond. A mountain raised itself, like a good old man, with splendid brow; while a forest spread

around, like a great company of beautiful maidens clad in snowy white.

The air was still, when a chickadee set up its little note of cheer and welcome. Far off he heard a wagon, with its load of wood. As it moved over the new soil, a blissful sound rose in the air, as if in this new land all toil was sweet with music. Then, better still, he heard a distant baying. Ho, ho! it cried, like a clear bell; ho, ho! nearer still, coming through the forest. Old Daniel looked again for the silver ship turned golden, but it had gone, and in its place bright colors of rose and violet filled the sky, as if no clouds were to hang over this beautiful earth, but glad hues of every kind. He listened still, and heard now the voice of Neonetta calling to him in the distance. "Come!" she cried, "ere it is too late; " and the voice, even while she spake, grew fainter. "Ho, ho!" sounded the baying, nearer now and nearer. netta, in faint tones.

"Come!" cried Neo

"Ho, ho! - ho, ho!" Only a moment more, Queen Neonetta! for thy enchantment over Daniel. The sun will rise, the cock will crow, good Lion will bound across the snow-covered clearing. But, we will not stay. Hark! there is Lion again Ho, ho!

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