misery, he begged to go back to the cool grass in the meadow where he
had been so happy.

Aurora in pity said, "you shall go, my Tithonus. To make you happy is my
dearest wish.

"You shall be free from all care.

"You shall not be a man, lest you be compelled to work for your food in
your old age.

"You shall be a grasshopper, free to dance in the meadow grass all the
long summer days.

"I have prepared a dress for you, which shall protect you well."

Then she gave Tithonus the wonderful grasshopper coat of mail which had
been unknown on earth until this time.

She tinted it a soft green so that he might not be noticed in the grass.

Tithonus went that day to live in the meadow and there, any summer day,
you may find him and his family hopping merrily about in the sunshine.

[Illustration]

HOW THE ROBIN'S BREAST BECAME RED.

Long ago in the far North, where it is very cold, there was only one
fire.

A hunter and his little son took care of this fire and kept it burning
day and night. They knew that if the fire went out the people would
freeze and the white bear would have the Northland all to himself. One
day the hunter became ill and his son had the work to do.

For many days and nights he bravely took care of his father and kept the
fire burning.

The white bear was always hiding near, watching the fire. He longed to
put it out, but he did not dare, for he feared the hunter's arrows.

When he saw how tired and sleepy the little boy was, he came closer to
the fire and laughed to himself.

One night the poor boy could endure the fatigue no longer and fell fast
asleep.

The white bear ran as fast as he could and jumped upon the fire with his
wet feet, and rolled upon it. At last, he thought it was all out and
went happily away to his cave.

A gray robin was flying near and saw what the white bear was doing.

She waited until the bear went away. Then she flew down and searched
with her sharp little eyes until she found a tiny live coal. This she
fanned patiently with her wings for a long time.

Her little breast was scorched red, but she did not stop until a fine
red flame blazed up from the ashes.

Then she flew away to every hut in the Northland.

Wherever she touched the ground a fire began to burn.

Soon instead of one little fire the whole north country was lighted up.

The white bear went further back into his cave in the iceberg and
growled terribly.

He knew that there wa