lly long story," said the Wind.

"And so stupid and tiresome," said the Rain. "Blow upon me, please, that
I may revive a little."

And while the Wind blew, the Sunshine said: "The swan of fortune flew
over the lovely bay where the fishermen had set their nets. The very
poorest one among them was wishing to marry--and marry he did.

"To him the swan brought a piece of amber. Amber draws things toward
itself, and this piece drew hearts to the house where the fisherman
lived with his bride. Amber is the most wonderful of incense, and there
came a soft perfume, as from a holy place, a sweet breath from
beautiful nature, that God has made. And the fisherman and his wife were
happy and grateful in their peaceful home, content even in their
poverty. And so their life became a real Sunshine Story."

"I think we had better stop now," said the Wind. "I am dreadfully bored.
The Sunshine has talked long enough."

"I think so, too," said the Rain.

And what do we others who have heard the story say?

We say, "Now the story's done."

[Illustration]

THE DARNING-NEEDLE

THERE was once a Darning-needle who thought herself so fine that she
came at last to believe that she was fit for embroidery.

"Mind now that you hold me fast," she said to the Fingers that took her
up. "Pray don't lose me. If I should fall on the ground I should
certainly be lost, I am so fine."

"That's more than you can tell," said the Fingers, as they grasped her
tightly by the waist.

"I come with a train, you see," said the Darning-needle, as she drew her
long thread after her; but there was no knot in the thread.

The Fingers pressed the point of the Needle upon an old pair of
slippers, in which the upper leather had burst and must be sewed
together. The slippers belonged to the cook.

"This is very coarse work!" said the Darning-needle. "I shall never get
through alive. There, I'm breaking! I'm breaking!" and break she did.
"Did I not say so?" said the Darning-needle. "I'm too delicate for such
work as that."

"Now it's quite useless for sewing," said the Fingers; but they still
held her all the same, for the cook presently dropped some melted
sealing wax upon the needle and then pinned her neckerchief in front
with it.

"See, now I'm a breastpin," said the Darning-needle. "I well knew that I
should come to honor; when one is something, one always comes to
something. Merit is sure to rise." And at this she laughed, only
inwa