reallifefurnishesuswithsubjectsforthemostwonderfulfairytales;forotherwisemybeautifulelder-bushcouldnothavegrownforthoutoftheteapot."

andthenshetookthelittleboyoutofbedandplacedhimonherbosom;theelderbranches,fullofblossoms,closedoverthem;itwasasiftheysatinathickleafybowerwhichflewwiththemthroughtheair;itwasbeautifulbeyondalldescription.thelittleelder-treemotherhadsuddenlybecomeacharmingyounggirl,butherdresswasstillofthesamegreenmaterial,coveredwithwhiteblossoms,astheelder-treemotherhadworn;shehadarealelderblossomonherbosom,andawreathofthesameflowerswaswoundroundhercurlygoldenhair;hereyesweresolargeandsobluethatitwaswonderfultolookatthem.sheandtheboykissedeachother,andthentheywereofthesameageandfeltthesamejoys.theywalkedhandinhandoutofthebower,andnowstoodathomeinabeautifulflowergarden.nearthegreenlawnthefather'swalking-stickwastiedtoapost.therewaslifeinthisstickforthelittleones,forassoonastheyseatedthemselvesuponitthepolishedknobturnedintoaneighinghorse'shead,alongblackmanewasflutteringinthewind,andfourstrongslenderlegsgrewout.theanimalwasfieryandspirited;theygallopedroundthelawn."hooray!nowweshallridefaraway,manymiles!"saidtheboy;"weshallridetothenobleman'sestatewherewewerelastyear."andtheyroderoundthelawnagain,andthelittlegirl,who,asweknow,wasnootherthanthelittleelder-treemother,continuallycried,"nowweareinthecountry!doyouseethefarmhousethere,withthelargebakingstove,whichprojectslikeagiganticeggoutofthewallintotheroad?theelder-treespreadsitsbranchesoverit,andthecockstrutsaboutandscratchesforthehens.lookhowproudheis!nowwearenearthechurch;itstandsonahighhill,underthespreadingoaktrees;oneofthemishalfdead!nowweareatthesmithy,wherethefireroarsandthehalf-nakedmenbeatwiththeirhammerssothatthesparksflyfarandwide.let'sbeofftothebeautifulfarm!"andtheypassedbyeverythingthelittlegirl,whowassittingbehindonthestick,described,andtheboysawit,andyettheyonlywentroundthelawn.thentheyplayedinaside-walk,andmarkedoutalittlegardenontheground;shetookelder-blossomsoutofherhairandplantedthem,andtheygrewexactlylikethosetheoldpeopleplantedwhentheywerechildren,aswehaveheardbefore.theywalkedabouthandinhand,justastheoldcouplehaddonewhentheywerelittle,buttheydidnotgototheroundtowernortothefredericksburggarden.no;thelittlegirlseizedtheboyroundthewaist,andthentheyflewfarintothecountry.itwasspringanditbecamesummer,itwasautumnanditbecamewinter,andthousandsofpicturesreflectedthemselvesintheboy'seyesandheart,andthelittlegirlalwayssangagain,"youwillneverforgetthat!"andduringtheirwholeflighttheelder-treesmeltsosweetly;henoticedtherosesandthefreshbeeches,buttheelder-treesmeltmuchstronger,fortheflowerswerefixedonthelittlegirl'sbosom,againstwhichtheboyoftenrestedhisheadduringtheflight.

"itisbeautifulhereinspring,"saidthelittlegirl,andtheywereagaininthegreenbeechwood,wherethethymebreathedforthsweetfragranceattheirfeet,andthepinkanemoneslookedlovelyinthegreenmoss."oh!thatitwerealwaysspringinthefragrantbeechwood!"