present, and that was the burnishing of the ladders, and the mixing of the powder for that purpose; and the mention of this brings me to a subject very painful to speak of. We have one enemy, dear Sunbeam, a most dangerous and subtle enemy, who, if he were once to gain an entrance into our beautiful world, would work our ruin here, and destroy our influence on earth, as he has already done in many a fairy land. This enemy is Discord, and it is our very journeys to the earth that subject us to the risk of his introducing himself into our happy home. Hitherto, however, all his cunning has been unsuccessful, notwithstanding the disguises he has resorted to; for no sooner does he place his foot on one of the ladders, than it gives forth a sharp sound, which never fails to reach the ears of my trusty sentinels wherever they may be, and they immediately send forth a shooting star as a signal for the instant return of all our emissaries; after which the ladders are drawn up, and sent to the forge, there to be melted down again, and wrought and burnished. The peculiar charm to warn us of his wicked attempts to enter our fair and happy world consists in this last process, and it is therefore confided to the most experienced, the most learned, and the most trustworthy of our long-tried and faithful servants, who have made it the study of their whole life to mix the ingre

dients of which the powder is composed in such a manner as may take from it none of its virtues; and hitherto they have been found faithful. So you see, dear Sunbeam, you may return to your own home tranquil and happy with regard to those you have left on earth, for you see there are many that care for them, nor will you forget them. You will now take more interest than ever in cultivating the flowers that grow in your own beautiful home: flowers that shall gladden the eye and console the heart; flowers that shall remind them of the Sunbeam that has dwelt among them, and loved them, and sympathized with them.'

And Sunbeam was glad as she listened to the consoling words of Gentinella, the fairy queen, and the weight was taken from her breast, and she looked up to the Bright One at her side, but he was changed: the Great Geni himself stood there, looking down on her with his eyes of love. Nor was this the only change. The morning broke; the fairy palace was fast melting away into airy clouds; and as Gentinella stretched forth her magic wand, there sprang up before them a golden chariot and four milk-white chargers, and no sooner did Sunbeam and Gentinella seat themselves therein, than the Great Geni spread his powerful wings, and they were borne rapidly away over hill and dale, meadow and plain, to visit all the glories of

the earth, where Sunbeam had done so much good.

What she saw she never forgot; and when after the evolution of three hundred and sixty-five days, during which time she never left the Geni's side, when Gentinella was restored to her fairy home, Sunbeam kissed her lovingly for all she had shown her and related to her, she again nestled closely up to the Great Geni, who wafted her away to her own beautiful home, and who bestowed upon her, as a reward for her loving-kindness, the precious gift of MEMORY.

So Sunbeam returned to the land she had come from, far, far away; but she is constantly sending forth brothers and sisters to visit the scenes she loved so well, and many a precious gift doth she entrust to them,-gifts all tending to render the children of earth as good and happy as she wishes them to be; and these gifts are all taken from the great storehouse of LOVE.

Conclusion.

'Oh, Mamma!' said Muriel, 'you do not mean to say that the story is finished, and that we shall never see our dear little Sunbeam any more?'

'Do we not see her every day, my darling? Does not the Great Geni send forth his rays to