nd took great pleasure in
inventing games for, and otherwise amusing them. She loved all children,
but she was especially fond of those of Noviland, the king of which was
one of her subjects. She used often to slip on her magic veil, which
rendered her invisible, and go amongst the little folks of Noviland to
watch them at their play, or at their lessons, or to peep at them whilst
they slept. It was in this way that she found out there was scarcely a
child in Noviland but what was discontented with what it had, and sighed
for what it had not.

One fancied that Noviland would be the jolliest place in the world for
little boys if there were no lessons, no schools; but grammar and
spelling spoiled all. Pepitia thought that if she might wear fine
dresses like mamma, have a coach and six to ride in, and no one to
control her, she would be perfectly contented. The little Teresa sighed
for a land where there was no A B C, and Dorinda for one where toys grew
on trees, and no hard-hearted shopkeeper demanded money before they were
plucked. Herbert wished he lived in a place where there were plenty of
gay butterflies, and that he had nothing to do but to hunt them. Thus
each child had something to wish for, and something to be discontented
about.

I wonder whether there are children in any other part of the world who,
like those of Noviland, want what they have not, and grumble at what
they have? Do you know any? Ah, no! I suppose there are no other little
folks so silly, so I won't urge the question, but go on with my story.

When the good fairy heard all these murmurings, she said to herself, "I
will gratify these little people for a short time in what they want, and
we shall see if they will be happy then."

So she set her fays to work, and had built on Child Island the beautiful
palace and houses I have told you of. When all was ready, she and her
fays took the little grumblers out of their beds one fine night and
wafted them away, whilst still asleep, to Child Island, taking care, I
should tell you, to leave changelings from Fairyland in their places, so
that the parents might not be filled with grief in the morning to find
that their dear children had been stolen away.

The next morning, after the sun had dispelled the mist which always
seemed to hang about him before breakfast at Child Island, and he was
fresh and bright for the day, like little boys with clean faces ready
for school, the young strangers were all asse