"

Off went Whisk through the window, and back he came in a moment with
seven merry little Winds, all ready for a frolic.

They had sung all the birds and all the flowers to sleep, they said, and
had been sitting under a tree, whistling for something to do, and now
nothing would give them greater pleasure than to blow the two little
heavy ones (for I am sorry to tell you, children, that you are all known
by that name among the lively spirits of the air,) wherever they liked
to go.

"That is well then," said I. "And where will you go, you two mice?"

"To China!" said Nibble.

"Oh! yes, to China!" cried Brighteyes. "Then we can see Pun-Chin, the
naughty boy you spoke of, and you can tell us more about him as we go
along!"

"Yes! yes! to China," said Nibble, again; and he began to dance wildly
around the room, as if nothing would stop him. At last the two mice were
ready for their long journey through the air.

[Illustration]

"China it is then!" I said. "Spread the handkerchiefs out on the
window-sill. That's right! Now sit down on them--so! now, little Winds,
blow steadily and off we go!"

Ah! that was a ride worth taking, you may believe. Away through the soft
May night, over the tree-tops, over the hill-tops, the two mice, half
frightened, half delighted, sitting cross-legged on their handkerchiefs,
like two little Turks, and the merry little Winds puffing away with
might and main, while Whisk and I led the way, and lighted it too. Yes,
it was a pretty sight, had there been any one there to see it. But if
you had been there yourself, you would only have said "See those two
great white owls! how fast they fly."

Now we came to the sea. Hundreds of my beams were there sparkling over
the shining water, and playing with the little waves, which put up their
faces, each in its white nightcap, and laughed and danced merrily. They
called to the seven Winds and said:

"Come down and play with us!"

But the Winds said "No! no! we have work to do now. We can be very
steady fellows when we choose, though you might not think it."

[Illustration]

And they puffed away bravely, to the great relief of Nibble and
Brighteyes, who had been wondering what would become of them if the
merry Winds should take a fancy to play with the waves.

Now they began to sing, the seven Winds, and the waves answered them as
they leaped and danced. And this is the song they sang:

"Ever singing, ever sighing,
Ev