at once become grown men and
women, and the old people return to the days of their childhood.'

And without stopping to consult one single other fairy, who might have
given her good advice, off rushed Dindonette, to cast her spell over the
fountain.

It was the only spring of fresh water in the island, and at dawn was
crowded with people of all ages, come to drink at its source. Delighted
at her plan for making them all happy, the fairy hid herself behind a
thicket of roses, and peeped out whenever footsteps came that way.
It was not long before she had ample proof of the success of her
enchantments. Almost before her eyes the children put on the size
and strength of adults, while the old men and women instantly became
helpless, tiny babies. Indeed, so pleased was she with the result of
her work, that she could no longer remain hidden, and went about telling
everybody what she had done, and enjoying their gratitude and thanks.

But after the first outburst of delight at their wishes being granted,
people began to be a little frightened at the rapid effects of the magic
water. It was delicious to feel yourself at the height of your power and
beauty, but you would wish to keep so always! Now this was exactly what
the fairy had been in too much of a hurry to arrange, and no sooner had
the children become grown up, and the men and women become babies, than
they all rushed on to old age at an appalling rate! The fairy only found
out her mistake when it was too late to set it right.

When the inhabitants of the island saw what had befallen them, they were
filled with despair, and did everything they could think of to escape
from such a dreadful fate. They dug wells in their places, so that they
should no longer need to drink from the magic spring; but the sandy soil
yielded no water, and the rainy season was already past. They stored up
the dew that fell, and the juice of fruits and of herbs, but all this
was as a drop in the ocean of their wants. Some threw themselves
into the sea, trusting that the current might carry them to other
shores--they had no boats--and a few, still more impatient, put
themselves to death on the spot. The rest submitted blindly to their
destiny.

Perhaps the worst part of the enchantment was, that the change from
one age to another was so rapid that the person had no time to prepare
himself for it. It would not have mattered so much if the man who stood
up in the assembly of the nation, to giv