ht spring morning that Apollo and Hyacinthus
were playing a game of quoits together. The boy's merry laugh rang
through the clear air and reached the ears of Zephyr, who was hiding in
the branches of a tree close by.

An angry look passed over his face as he exclaimed, "He shall die.
Rather than give him up to Apollo, I will cause his death!"

At that very moment Apollo raised his arm and threw his quoit. Straight
as a dart it sped, until a strong gust of wind, raised for the purpose
by the angry Zephyr, changed its course, so that it struck Hyacinthus
upon the head and killed him.

And now the revenge of the West-wind was complete, for not only had
Apollo lost the object of his love, but he had slain him with his own
hands.

Then the Sun-god was frantic with grief, and, casting himself upon the
body of his favorite, he wept loud and long. "Oh! my beloved," he cried,
"come back, come back to me! woe, woe, woe is me!"

But nothing could restore the boy to life again. There was but one thing
he could do, and in order that the memory of his darling might remain
fresh and fragrant among men, he changed the beautiful but lifeless form
into a sweet and lovely flower. So year by year, with each returning
spring, the Hyacinths reappear and spread a rich carpet over the woods
and dells, reminding us of the ill-fated youth whose life was sacrificed
to "the green-eyed monster," jealousy.

ST. LEONARD AND THE FIERY SNAKE

Fairy Tales from Flowerland
ST. LEONARD AND THE FIERY SNAKE

"A little monitor presents her page
Of choice instruction, with her snowy bells!
The Lily of the Vale."

HUNDREDS of years ago there was a vast forest in England, wherein lurked
all manner of wild beasts and loathsome reptiles. The trees grew thick
and tall, but beneath them the earth was brown and bare, for no grass or
flower could grow within the gloomy forest.

Now at this time there lived a good and holy knight named Saint Leonard,
and it so happened that as he journeyed through the land, seeking how he
might do good and help his fellow-men, that he came in the course of his
wanderings to the borders of the great forest.

The country people whom he met warned him against attempting to
penetrate its depths, and said to him, "The forest is haunted with evil
things, which no man shall encounter and live to tell the tale."

Now Saint Leonard did not know what fear was, and persisted on going
into the perilous forest. So he left th