low the birds which come from
the blue shells. You and your children and your children's children
shall dwell in the land in which these birds nest.

"You who choose the red-brown eggs shall follow the birds which come
from the red-brown shells. You and your children and your children's
children shall dwell in the land in which these birds nest!"

"But which shall we choose?" cried the eager earth children.

"Nay," said the strange prince, "that I may not tell. But this much
you may know:

"From one pair of eggs shall come forth beautiful birds. Their
feathers shall be coloured, like the leaves and fruits of summer. They
shall nest in the land of everlasting summer-time and plenty.

"They who choose those eggs will follow these birds to the beautiful
country of summer-time. The fruits will ripen daily and fall into the
hands of the lucky earth children. Their food will come to them
without labour and they shall know neither hunger nor cold."

"And what will happen if we choose the other pair of eggs?"

The strange prince shook his head half sadly and smiled on the earth
children.

"From the other pair of eggs," he said, "shall come forth birds with
black feathers, piebald with white. This pair will nest in a land
where you may gain food by labour only.

"Those who follow this pair of birds shall struggle summer and winter.
By long days of toil they shall provide food. By long nights of
watchfulness they shall keep warmth within their homes."

Then the strange prince ceased speaking. The earth children looked at
each other and forgot to speak. Each looked into the eyes of the other
and asked a question. Each wished to follow the birds which would lead
them to the land of everlasting summer-time and idleness and plenty.

"Which eggs do you choose?" asked the strange prince.

"The blue--the blue!" cried the earth children. Then those who were
strongest and quickest pushed forward.

They fought for the blue eggs, and getting them hurried away with
gladness.

They buried the blue eggs in the soft loam on the sunny side of the
cliff. They sat down to watch when the young birds should hatch.

Now there remained those weaker earth children who had been pushed
aside. For them there was no choice. The strange prince gave into
their hand the red-brown eggs.

The red-brown eggs were placed amid the soft green grasses by the
riverside. The earth children into whose care they were given sat also
b