ut them. But the poor little boy, having the sea-flower in his hand,
woke up with his head full of the past night, and fully expecting to
find the diamond trousers hanging over the back of a chair close by his
bed. When he looked, therefore, and saw nothing but his little brown
knickerbockers, with a patch on each knee, it was a bitter
disappointment. His first thought was that his beautiful present was
stolen, and he began to scream and cry: 'Where are my diamond trousers?
somebody has stolen them! stop thief! they are mine, and Patty gave them
to me!'

"Well, his mother hearing those cries, came in, and on hearing the
child's story she thought he had gone mad, and was very anxious about
him. Still he cried and screamed for his diamond trousers; but suddenly,
as he raised his hand to push away the chair on which the despised brown
knickerbockers lay, he dropped the sea-flower! Instantly everything
about Patty and the diamond trousers passed out of his mind like a flash
of lightning, and looking up at his mother, he said: 'What was I crying
about, Mamma? Isn't it time to get up?' And his mother said: 'Yes, my
darling, it is high time to get up, and I think you have had the
nightmare, Arthur dear.'

"So you see," I continued, "that it is not at all a wise thing to give
the sea-flower to little people like you. But, bless me! here we are at
the Mouse-trap again. Now, my mice, creep into your nests! say good-by
to the little Winds, and thank them for blowing you so far, for they
must be tired."

[Illustration]

"Oh! thank you! thank you! dear little Winds!" cried the two mice. "We
have had such a glorious ride, and we are so much obliged! and thank you
too, dear Mr. Moonman! will you come every night, please, and tell us
more wonderful things?"

"We will see about that!" I replied. "Every night is very often, and
there are many other children who look for me. But I will come soon
again, I promise you. Now good night, and a pleasant waking to you!" and
as Whisk and I flew upward, we heard the seven little Winds singing
softly, as they swung to and fro in the grape-vine outside the nursery
window:

The birds may sleep, but the winds must wake
Early and late, for the birdies' sake;
Kissing them, fanning them, soft and sweet,
E'en till the dark and the dawning meet.

The flowers may sleep, but the winds must wake
Early and late, for the flowers' sake;