t the fairies, mama?

Hel. About the fairies--and a big giant--and a little girl lost
in a wood--

Poe. And a little boy too?

Hel. Yes, a little boy, too! And the little girl was crying--

Poe. And the little boy found her?

Hel. Yes, and he told her not to cry, that he could kill the
big giant, and he hid the little girl in a cave--

Poe. Was it a dark cave, mama?

Hel. No-_o-o_! It was a cave--with--windows in it! And by and
by he heard the giant coming--

Poe. Oh! (Hides his face on her breast. She holds him to her,
her hands on his hair) And when the little boy heard the
leaves rustling closer and closer he climbed a great
tree--

Poe. (Lifting his head) But he wasn't afraid, mama?

Hel. O, _no-o_!

Poe. Because that little boy was me!

Hel. Yes. And when you got to the top of the tree--

Poe. O, what did I do then?

Hel. Why, you see this was the biggest giant that _e-v-e-r_
lived--and his head was just as high as the top of the
tree--so when he came by--

Poe. I know! I know! I just out with my sword, and off went his
head!

Hel. So it did! And then you climbed down from the tree--

Poe. And the little girl came out of the cave--

Hel. And you went off together happy ever after!

Poe. What was that little girl's name, mama?

Hel. Why, I don't think you ever told me that, did you?

Poe. I was just thinking--

Hel. What, darling?

Poe. That I wish you weren't my mama, so you could be that
little girl!

Hel. O, I can, dear. For there were the fairies. We forgot the
fairies. They gave me this pretty ring, so that when I put
it on I can be whoever I please, and I please to be just
whoever my little boy likes best.

Poe. (Rises, and speaks in his own manner) Madonna, Oh,
Madonna! You will save me. (Kisses her forehead)
Good-night. To-morrow I will tell you about my work--our
work. There are miracles yet to be. And Poesy shall speak
them.

Hel. But do not try to write out all your soul, Edgar. That
cannot be. Poetry is but one gate. The soul goes out by a
thousand ways.

Poe. True. And we will find those ways together, Helen. We will
gather truth in every