est to keep it from
sinking; for he knew, as we all do, that once let a bubble touch the
earth, and all is over,--its glittering wings collapse,--they fly no
more.

So the weeks went on. Unconscious of trouble, the children dug and
planted in their little gardens. Each new leaf and shoot was a wonder
and a delight to them. Bertha's plants flourished less than the others,
because of a habit she had of digging them all up daily to see how the
roots were coming on; but, except for that, all went well, and the
bluest of skies stretched itself over the heads of the small gardeners.
In the City, where Papa's office was, the sky was not blue at all. High
winds were blowing, stormy black clouds shut out the sun. Bubbles were
sinking and bursting on every side, and men's hearts were heavy and
anxious. Prince John did his best. He watched his bubble anxiously, and
followed it far. It was fairy-blessed, as I said, and its wings were
stronger than bubble's wings usually are; but at last the day came when
it could soar no longer. The pretty shining sphere hovered, sank,
touched a rock, and in a minute--hey! presto!--there was no bubble
there; it had utterly disappeared, and Prince Frisbie, with a very sober
face, walked home to tell his wife that he had lost every thing they had
in the world. This was not a pleasant or an easy thing to do, as you can
readily imagine.

The children never forgot this evening. They used to vaguely refer to it
among themselves as "That time, you know." Papa came in very quiet and
pale, and shut himself up with Mamma. She--poor soul!--was much
distressed, and sobbed and cried. They heard her as they came downstairs
dressed for the evening, and it frightened them. Papa, coming out after
a while, found them huddled together in a dismayed little group in the
corner of the entry.

"O Papa! is it any thing dreadful?" asked May. "Is Mamma sick?"

"No, not sick, darling, but very much troubled about something. Come
with me and I will explain it to you." Then Papa led them into the
dining-room; and, with Bertha on his knee and the others close to him,
he told them that he had lost a great deal of money (almost all he had),
and they would have to sell the place, and go and live in a little house
somewhere,--he didn't yet know exactly where.

The children had looked downcast enough when Papa commenced, but at this
point their faces brightened.

"A really little house?" exclaimed May. "O Papa! do you know, I