ovely thought to mark the hours
As they floated in light away,
By the opening and the folding flowers
That laugh to the summer's day."

One very old writer tells us that he knew of forty-six flowers by which
he could tell the time, and since then a great many more have been
discovered. These time-keepers open and shut their blossoms at exactly
the same time each day, and every hour of the day or night some flower
opens and closes its petals.

Then those who love fairies know that they have much to do with the
flowers, and while to some they may seem very trifling occupations--this
writing and reading about fairies--yet

"Another sort there be, that will
Be talking of the Fairies still;
Nor never can they have their fill
As they were wedded to them."

H.J.

CONTENTS

The Enchanted Castle
The Fair Maids of February
The Loveless Youth
The Wind Flower
The Fate of Hyacinthus
St. Leonard and the Fiery Snake
A Fair Prisoner
The Ungrateful Traveler
The Star of Bethlehem
The Angel's Gift
The Holy Hay
The Search for Gold
The Flower Fairies

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

"'You will come to the walls of an old castle'"
"'I am gathering them for Mother'"
"Slowly the great door opened"
"'The Key-flower will always admit you'"
"Hastened home to her mother"
"The skies were gray and cheerless"
"'Tell me why thou weepest'"
"The angel handed her the frail blossom"
"When the winter snows disappear"
"The monks were fond of planting the snowdrops"
"The boy did not return their love"
"The image in the water returned no answer"
"Zephyr cared not for Lady Flora"
"When the March winds blow"
"She is a capital weather-glass"
"They walked and drove together"
"Playing a game of quoits together"
"He had slain him with his own hand"
"With such returning spring"
"The country people warned him"
"He sank, exhausted, upon the steps"
"As they followed its winding course"
"But St. Leonard drew his sword"
"Shut up in the turret-chamber"
"In the disguise of a peddler"
"She fell into the court yard below"
"The sweet blossoms of a tiny flower"
"A great doorway in the rock"
"Once more upon the bleak mountain side"
"He could hear the voices of the priests"
"'The Star of Bethlehem' men call it"
"The bright messenger from heaven"
"Then she was tied to the stake"
"'Make me more lovely still'"
"The birds of the air came to him"
"A crown around the baby head"