ey said she made haste to wipe away
the tears that threatened to roll down her cheeks, and went about her
work with a pleasant face.

All day long she was busy for there were the cows to take to the
pasture, and the little chicks to feed, and the eggs to gather; but at
sunset her tasks were done, and with her doll in her arms she sat in
the doorway of the house and looked away toward the town, the towers
of which just showed above the Enchanted Wood.

Highest of all was the spire of the church that stood in the square
where the knights had been; and as Hildegarde watched it change from
grey to gold in the sunset glow, she thought of them and wondered
where they had gone when their business was done.

Some day they would come again and then she should surely see them,
her father said; and already she had begun to look forward to that
time.

"Perhaps they will come when the wolves do in the winter," she said to
herself; but scarcely had she spoken when through an opening in the
wood she spied a horseman riding at a stately pace. Behind him came
another, and another till she had counted five--five brave knights!
Yes, there they came with prancing steeds and shining shields, and
splendid clothes!

One bore a banner blue as the sky on a summer's day, and the next held
a wee lamb close within his arms. A dragon's head hung from another's
saddle, and two had bugles by their sides.

Not a word was spoken. As silently as the stars shine out at evening
they passed the door where the child sat wonder-struck; and as quietly
as the sun goes down at the day's end they vanished into the wood
again before she could move or call. But just as the green of the last
one's coat faded away into the green of the trees, Hildegarde thought
she heard a strain of sweetest music!

Now there were those, and Hildegarde's mother and father were among
them, who believed that the little maid, tired from her long busy day,
had fallen asleep, and dreamed a beautiful dream.

But as for Hildegarde, she kept the vision in her heart alway; and
when as the years went by she had little ones of her own to rock to
sleep, she told them of it, and sang to them as her mother had sung to
her:

[Illustration: Music]

FIVE BRAVE KNIGHTS

Words, MAUD LINDSAY

Air, Old Song

Hush, my ba-by, do not cry, Five brave knights go rid-ing by.

One is dressed in bon-ny blue; He's the lead-er, strong and true.

One is clad from head to toe In an ar-mor whi