shewasagoodoldmaidenlady!shelivedyonder,behindtheexchange.shealwayshadasprigorafewblossomsinwater,letthewinterbeeversocouldsmelltheviolets,evenwhileiwasplacingwarmpennypiecesagainstthefrozenpanestomakepeep-holes,andaprettyviewitwasonwhichipeeped.outintheriverlaytheships,icebound,andforsakenbytheircrews;ascreamingcrowrepresentedtheonlylivingcreatureonboard.butwhenthebreezesofspringcame,everythingstartedintolife.amidstshoutingandcheerstheshipsweretarredandrigged,andthentheysailedtoforeignlands.

"iremainhere,andalwaysshallremain,sittingatmypostatthepoliceoffice,andlettingotherstakepassportstodistantlands.yes,thisismyfate,"andhesigheddeeply.suddenlyhepaused."goodgracious,whathascomeoverme?ineverfeltbeforeasidonow;itmustbetheairofspring.itisoverpowering,andyetitisdelightful."

hefeltinhispocketsforsomeofhispapers."thesewillgivemesomethingelsetothinkof,"saidhe.castinghiseyesonthefirstpageofone,heread,"'mistresssigbirth;anoriginaltragedy,infiveacts.'whatisthis?-inmyownhandwriting,too!haveiwrittenthistragedy?"hereadagain,"'theintrigueonthepromenade;or,thefast-day.avaudeville.'howeverdidigetallthis?someonemusthaveputthemintomypocket.andhereisaletter!"itwasfromthemanagerofatheatre;thepieceswererejected,notatallinpoliteterms.

"hem,hem!"saidhe,sittingdownonabench;histhoughtswereveryelastic,andhisheartsoftenedstrangely.involuntarilyheseizedoneofthenearestflowers;itwasalittle,simplethatbotanistscansayinmanylectureswasexplainedinamomentbythislittleflower.itspokeofthegloryofitsbirth;ittoldofthestrengthofthesunlight,whichhadcauseditsdelicateleavestoexpand,andgiventoitsuchsweetperfume.thestrugglesoflifewhicharousesensationsinthebosomhavetheirtypeinthetinyflowers.airandlightaretheloversoftheflowers,butlightisthefavoredone;towardslightitturns,andonlywhenlightvanishesdoesitfolditsleavestogether,andsleepintheembracesoftheair."

"itislightthatadornsme,"saidtheflower.

"buttheairgivesyouthebreathoflife,"whisperedthepoet.

justbyhimstoodaboy,splashingwithhisstickinamarshyditch.thewater-dropsspurtedupamongthegreentwigs,andtheclerkthoughtofthemillionsofanimalculaewhichwerethrownintotheairwitheverydropofwater,ataheightwhichmustbethesametothemasitwouldbetousifwewerehurledbeyondtheclouds.astheclerkthoughtofallthesethings,andbecameconsciousofthegreatchangeinhisownfeelings,hesmiled,andsaidtohimself,"imustbeasleepanddreaming;andyet,ifso,howwonderfulforadreamtobesonaturalandreal,andtoknowatthesametimetoothatitisbutadream.ihopeishallbeabletorememberitallwheniwaketomorrow.mysensationsseemmostunaccountable.ihaveaclearperceptionofeverythingasifiwerewideawake.iamquitesureifirecollectallthistomorrow,itwillappearutterlyridiculousandabsurd.ihavehadthishappentomebefore.itiswiththecleverorwonderfulthingswesayorhearindreams,aswiththegoldwhichcomesfromundertheearth,itisrichandbeautifulwhenwepossessit,butwhenseeninatruelightitisbutasstonesandwitheredleaves."

"ah!"