grew and
the white sheep and baby lambs were feeding together in the sunshine.

On one side of this meadow flowed a silver shining river, and the child
wandered up and down the bank to find some way to cross, for he knew
that he must go on.

As he walked there, a man called a carpenter found him, and said to
him:--

"There is always a way to get over the stream. Follow me! follow me!"

Then the little boy followed the carpenter, and the carpenter and his
men built a bridge of iron and wood that reached across from bank to
bank. And when the bridge was finished, the child ran over in safety;
and after he had thanked the carpenter, he said:--

"_Carpenter, carpenter, on your way!
Carry a message for me to-day:
My love to my mother, wherever she be,
I know she is always thinking of me_."

The carpenter gladly consented; and after he had turned back to carry
the message, the little boy followed the path, which led up hill over
rocks and steep places, through brambles and briars, until his feet grew
weary; and when he came down into the valley again, he saw a river that
was very dark and very deep.

There was no white swan or wise wind to help him. No tree in the forest
could bridge it over, and the carpenter and his men were far away.

"I must get over. There is a way," said the little boy bravely; and, as
he sat down to rest, he heard a murmuring sound. Looking down, he spied
a tiny boat fastened to a willow tree.

"_I am the boat with a helping oar,
To carry you over from shore to shore_,"

repeated the boat; and when the little boy had unfastened it, he sprang
in, and began to row himself over the dark water.

As he rowed, he saw a tiny bird flying above him. The bird needed no
boat or bridge, for its wings were strong; and when the little boy saw
it, he cried:--

"_Little bird, little bird, flying so gay!
Carry a message for me to-day:
My love to my mother, wherever she be;
I know she is always thinking of me_."

The little bird flew swiftly back to carry the message, and the boy
rowed on till he reached the opposite shore. After he had thanked the
boat with its helping oar, he tied it to a tree as he had found it, and
then hastened away, singing his happy song again.

By and by he heard an answer to his song, and he knew that it was the
great sea, calling "Come! Come! Come!" And when he reached the shore
where the blue waves were dancing up to the yellow sand