dious concert; the meadows were sprinkled with beds of
flowers of various hues and fragrance, and a thousand delicious odors
gave zest to every breath he drew. Vast fields of violets, most
especially, were spread out in every direction, larger and more
beautiful than any he had ever seen before. A gentle river meandered
deep and clear through a long valley spread out before him, skirted on
either side by pale blue hills, so high they seemed to reach and
mingle with the heavens above. A cool, refreshing zephyr played about
his brow, and as he breathed its inspiring odors, Violet felt himself
suddenly restored to all his wonted vigor and activity.

As he stood gazing in almost stupefied wonder at the scene before him,
and doubtful whether it was merely a creation of his bewildered fancy,
he perceived a radiant female form approaching, seated in a chariot
formed of a single violet, and crowned with a diadem of the same
flowers. Her dress, too, was composed of many-colored violets, and her
chariot drawn by butterflies, whose wings of gold and purple were of
glorious lustre. The chariot stood still on coming up to the youth;
the lady springing out, lighted on the flowers without ruffling their
leaves, and giving him her tiny hand addressed him as follows:

"Welcome, Prince Violet, for such you are by birth,
and by my creation. I was the friend of your
mother. I presided at your birth, and I gave you
your name. I therefore feel in some measure
responsible for your happiness, and am come hither
to give you the benefit of my advice and
assistance. Know, my prince, that you are brought
here by a destiny you could not avoid. You are in
the dominions, I might almost say in the power of
the wicked enchanter Curmudgeon, who is as potent
as he is wicked. Among his other diabolical acts,
he is an adept in the new science of animal
magnetism, can put you to sleep by the waving of
his hand, pull out your teeth without your knowing
any thing about it, and divorce your spirit from
your body, sending it wandering away to distant
regions, while the body remains unconscious though
not inanimate. In short, there is no end to his
wicked devices, and he is the most mischievous,
malignant monster in the world, inexorable in his
revenge, and clothed with th