tell it to you and see if you all approve and think me equal to
it. It used to come to me in flashes, after this Fairy Godmother of
mine opened an avenue for my surplus energy by sending me out as a
story-teller; but lately I have n't had any heart for it. Work grew
monotonous and disagreeable and hopeless, and I 'm afraid I had no wish
to be useful or helpful to myself or to anybody else. But now
everything is different. I am not so rich as I was (I wish, Mr. Bird,
you would not smile so provokingly when I mention my riches!), and I
must not be idle any longer; so this is my plan, I want to be a
story-teller by profession. Perhaps you will say that nobody has ever
done it; but surely that is an advantage; I should have the field to
myself for a while, at least. I have dear Mrs. Bird's little poor
children as a foundation. Now, I would like to get groups of other
children together in somebody's parlor twice a week and tell them
stories,--the older children one day in the week and the younger ones
another. Of course I have n't thought out all the details, because I
hoped my Fairy Godmother would help me there, if she approved of my
plan; but I have ever so many afternoons all arranged, and enough
stories and songs at my tongue's end for three months. Do you think it
impossible or nonsensical, Mr. Bird?"

"No," said he thoughtfully, after a moment's pause. "It seems on the
first hearing to be perfectly feasible. In fact, in one sense it will
not be an experiment at all. You have tried your powers, gained
self-possession and command of your natural resources; developed your
ingenuity, learned the technicalities of your art, so to speak,
already. You propose now, as I understand, to extend your usefulness,
widen your sphere of action, address yourself to a larger public, and
make a profession out of what was before only a side issue in your
life. It's a new field, and it 's a noble one, taken in its highest
aspect, as you have always taken it. My motto for you, Polly, is
Goethe's couplet:--

"'What you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.'"

"Make way for the story-teller!" cried Edgar. "I will buy season
tickets for both your groups, if you will only make your limit of age
include me. I am only five feet ten, and I 'll sit very low if you 'll
admit me to the charmed circle. Shall you have a stage name? I would
suggest 'The Seraphic Sapphira.'"

"Now,