go alone.

One day she was taking her usual ride in her shell carriage. The water
was warm and the turtles went so slowly that Clytie soon fell asleep. On
and on they went, straight towards the light, until they came to an
island.

[Illustration]

As the waves dashed the carriage against the shore Clytie awoke. She
climbed out of the shell and sat down upon a large rock. She had never
seen the trees and flowers.

She had never heard the birds chirping or the forest winds sighing.

She had never known the perfume of the flowers or seen the dew on the
grass.

In wonder, she saw a little boy and girl near her and heard them say,
"Here it comes! Here it comes!"

As she looked away in the east she saw the glorious light that she had
so longed for. In its midst, in a golden chariot, sat a wonderful king.

The king smiled and instantly the birds began to sing, the plants
unfolded their buds, and even the old sea looked happy.

Clytie sat on the rock all day long and wished that she might be like
the great kind king.

She wept when he entered the land of the sunset and she could see him no
longer. She went home, but she could scarcely wait until the morning.
Very early the next day her swiftest goldfish carried her to the rock.

After this, she came every day, wishing more and more to be like the
great kind king. One evening as she was ready to go home, she found that
she could not move her feet. She leaned out over the sea and knew that
she had her wish. Instead of a water nymph a beautiful sunflower looked
back at her from the water.

Her yellow hair had become golden petals, her green lace dress had
turned into leaves and stems, and her little feet had become roots which
fastened her to the ground.

The good king the next day sent her into many countries, into dry and
sandy places, that the people might be made happy by looking at her
bright face, so like his own.

[Illustration]

GOLDEN-ROD AND ASTER.

Golden Hair and Blue Eyes lived at the foot of a great hill.

On the top of this hill in a little hut lived a strange, wise woman.

It was said that she could change people into anything she wished. She
looked so grim and severe that people were afraid to go near her.

One summer day the two little girls at the foot of the hill thought they
would like to do something to make everybody happy.

[Illustration]

"I know," said Golden Hair, "Let us go and ask the woman on the hill
about it. She